Hearing Instrument & Earpiece Care
How do I take care of my custom fit earpieces?
With every
custom fit earpiece that is delivered, Westone includes a small printed
pamphlet called "Caring for your Custom Fit Products for the Ear." If
you have misplaced your pamphlet, you may access the very same
information by clicking here.
How can I get the best comfort, fit and seal for my earplugs or earpieces?
The original impression of your ear has the greatest
impact on the final fit of your earpiece. Occasionally, modification of
the earpiece and perhaps even a second impression for a remake is
needed. You may also experience acoustic leaks and feedback due to jaw
movement. Even a perfect earpiece cannot always address this issue. In
those cases, we offer several products that can compensate for the
changing shape of the canal. Otoferm creme and Oto-Ease can aid in both
insertion of the earpiece and retaining a good acoustic seal. Comply
Soft Wraps are small foam strips that wrap around the canal portion of
the earpiece and fill gaps as they occur.
Do I need a moisture removal device?
Some moisture related problems are obvious, such as
droplets visible in the tubing of BTE instrument. Most, however, are
not so apparent because moisture molecules, not visible droplets, cause
them. Here's why: the typical ear canal is a warm, humid environment.
Add a little perspiration and the result is a lot of water vapor
floating around inside the hearing instruments. When the ambient air
temperature changes, such as when you enter an air-conditioned car or
building, that water vapor condenses onto the sensitive
microelectronics, including the receiver and the microphone.
Condensation is an "equal opportunity" culprit, affecting users in hot,
dry Arizona as well as those in the humid Midwest. Symptoms may range
from sound distortion, intermittency, fuzziness, and faulty switches to
total instrument failure. This can result in costly downtime and
expensive repairs. The use of a desiccant drying system, such as
Hearing Aid Saver or Dry & Store, will remove moisture, keep wax
build up to a minimum, and can even prolong the life of the instrument.
Is it okay to leave the battery in my hearing instrument when putting it in a Hearing Aid Saver or other drying system?
Hearing instrument batteries are activated by
exposure to air. When the battery tab is removed, moisture jumps into
the battery along with the air. This combination of air and moisture,
commonly known as humidity, is part of the chemical workings that power
up the battery. But as a result, the batteries are very sensitive to
climate- either too much or too little moisture can shorten battery
life.
With this in mind, in high humidity areas, or for persons
with very active lifestyles (read: sweaty ears), leaving the batteries
in the instrument while left overnight in a dehumidifier can actually
prolong their life by removing the excess moisture. But in the absence
of those conditions, the dehumidifier may remove the needed moisture and decrease battery life. Fortunately, evidence suggests that any decrease should be fairly minimal.
We
now suggest that it is okay to leave batteries the hearing instrument
when in any form of moisture removing device (passive or active). It
may very well prolong the battery life, and if not, any loss should be
relatively minor. For many users, the benefit of not having to hassle
with battery removal (particularly a problem for those afflicted with
arthritis) should more than offset the potential loss.
