364 appendix: Take care of your equipment
These 2 hearing aids may need new batteries every week or every 2 or 3 months.
How often you need new batteries depends on how many hours each day you wear
your hearing aid, the type of hearing aid you have, and the kind of batteries you use.
An organization in Botswana, southern Africa, has found a way to make a
hearing aid with batteries that can be used over and over
(rechargeable). See page 377 for more information.
Some countries provide hearing aid batteries and
ear molds free. Contact the Ministry of Health in your
country to see if they are available.
Getting new ear molds and
batteries can be very costly.
Hearing aids and batteries
should be available to everyone
who can benefit from them, not
just to people who can afford
them!
How to take care of a hearing aid
No matter what type of hearing aid you have, it will last longer and give better
sound if it is given regular care. Here are some tips for taking care of a hearing aid:
• When you are not using it, keep your hearing aid far away from electrical
equipment, such as refrigerators and televisions.
• Do not let it get very hot or very cold.
• Keep it dry—sweat or water will damage it. During the day, remove it from time
to time and wipe off any sweat or moisture. Remove the hearing aid before
bathing, swimming, or when out in the rain. At night, put the hearing aid
in a container with silica gel (a material that absorbs moisture). Do not use
perfumes or any sort of spray on the hearing aid.
A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007