And wearing hearing aids may cause some people to produce more earwax. “The goal of earwax in our body is to keep foreign objects away from the eardrum,” Cavitt says. When you put a hearing aid in your ear, “some people’s bodies see that as something they need to fight with more wax.”
In fact, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), people with hearing aids are at a higher risk for impacted earwax, which occurs when too much wax builds up in the ear.
To keep hearing aids from becoming gummed up with earwax (or other dust or debris), clean them every day. “Regular maintenance is the key,” says Susan Anderson, AuD, director of audiological services at the University of Washington.
Your hearing aids probably came with a cleaning brush, but you can also use a toothbrush, Anderson says, to gently clear away earwax or dirt you might see on the device. You’ll also want to open up the battery compartment, if your device has one, and brush away any debris in there. Different devices may have special maintenance instructions and cleaning tools. (If you buy prescription hearing aids, your audiologist or hearing aid specialist can provide additional advice; maintenance instructions for OTC aids should be included in the user manual.)
If your hearing aid has a wax guard or wax trap (as in-the-ear, receiver-in-ear, and in-the-canal types may), these should be replaced regularly so that they don’t get blocked by wax and hamper sound quality. If you wear OTC hearing aids, the user manual should tell you how often to replace them. Manufacturers generally offer replacements for purchase online. For prescription hearing aids, your audiologist or hearing aid specialist should let you know when and how to replace them. He or she may provide replacements, or you can purchase them online.
The AAO-HSN recommends that people who use hearing aids also have their ear canals checked for impacted earwax every three to six months. If you struggle with earwax buildup, use only safe methods for handling it at home. Do not use risky and ineffective tools, such as earwax candles.
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