How To Revive A Hearing Aid That's Been Exposed To Moisture

First of all, I have to be honest. The worst-case scenarios, such as a hearing aid that's gone through the washing machine, are too far gone. If your hearing aid has gone through the washing machine, it's a goner. Don't even bother trying to revive a hearing aid that's been through the washer.

If the hearing aid has only been exposed to mild or moderate moisture, such as rain or falling into a puddle, it might be possible to revive it. The quicker you are able to revive it after exposure, the most likely your aid will “survive.” For the record, I've done this twice. One of the times I was successful, and the other time I wasn't. It all depends on the amount of moisture and how quickly you are able revive it.

Here's how to revive a hearing aid:

Step 1: If the hearing aid will not turn on, disconnect the hearing aid from the earmold tubing, remove the battery, and open the battery pack. (Dispose of the battery. Batteries can't withstand any moisture.)

Step 2: If a dehumidifier is handy, put the hearing aids in it right away. If you don't have it on hand, put your hearing aid in a container or ziploc with a bunch of rice. If you don't have access to a dehumidifier or rice, set your hearing aid and earmold out on a flat surface. Try turning it on again in a couple hours or so. If you get sound, awesome! If you don't, move on to step 3.

Step 3: Turn a blowdryer on low speed and low heat and blow-dry the hearing aid for a few minutes. If you're at work or out and about, the hand dryers in the bathroom should suffice, but don't hold it too close. (Do not blow-dry the mold, just the hearing aid.) If your hearing aid has not been exposed to copious amounts of moisture, it should revive by this point. If it doesn't, you can try leaving it in the dehydrator overnight. If it's still dead in the morning, it can't be revived.

If you don't have a hearing aid dehumidifier or a blow-dryer, get both. Everyone who uses hearing aids must own a blow-dryer, male or female. Blow-dryers are relatively inexpensive and they can save your hearing aids.