If you’re one of the 7.1% of adults aged 45 and over who uses a hearing aid (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), you may be wondering what you can do to make your hearing aids last. Perhaps one of the best ways, second to daily cleanings, is to invest in a hearing aid dry box to store your hearing aids in at night. We review more about hearing aid dry boxes below.
What Do Hearing Aid Dry Boxes Do?
There are two types of hearing aid dry boxes; both extract moisture from your hearing aids. The difference lies in how they do it.
- Regular dry boxes or dehumidifiers have only one job: to extract moisture. They are able to do this because they contain a desiccant, which are beads or capsules that pull moisture away from the delicate technology within your devices. They do this the same way rice does if you submerge your phone in it after it gets dropped in water.
- UV dry boxes have two jobs: both drying and sanitizing your hearing aids. Instead of using a desiccant, they use gentle heat to dry and UV-C light to sanitize against germs, bacteria and viruses. UV dry boxes are best for people who work in unsanitary conditions as well as those who produce a lot of sweat and earwax.
Do I Still Need to Clean My Hearing Aids if I Have a UV Dry Box?
Yes, you still need to clean your hearing aids at the end of each day, even if you have a UV dry box. There is a difference between sanitizing against germs and cleaning off debris. Dry boxes are supplements to regular cleanings, not a replacement.
When you clean your hearing aids, first wipe them down with a soft, dry, clean cloth. Then, use a wax pick/wire loop to scrape off any stubborn debris. Next, open the battery door and brush out the compartment. If your hearing aids have tubing, detach it and wash it in warm, soapy water, and make sure it’s completely dry before reattaching.
After you have finished these steps, put your hearing aids in the dry box overnight.
Where Can I Get a Hearing Aid Dry Box?
You can visit any local department store to talk to a sales representative about what dry boxes they have in stock and which one would best suit your needs. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call Center for Hearing & Speech today.
