Use the instructions for the exact model
Hearing aids differ in wax guards, receivers, domes, earmoulds, tubing, charging contacts and water resistance. The manual is the controlling source. The NIDCD hearing-aid guide gives broad care principles—keep aids away from heat and moisture and follow instructions—but it cannot replace model-specific directions.
Before cleaning, wash and dry your hands. Work over a towel or table rather than a sink or hard floor. Good light makes it easier to spot a blocked opening or cracked part.
Keep the routine dry and gentle
Wipe the outer surface with the supplied or manufacturer-approved cloth. Inspect microphone ports, the sound outlet, dome or earmould, and any replaceable wax guard. Use only the brush, loop or replacement part specified by the maker, and brush debris away from an opening rather than pushing it deeper.
Do not spray cleaner directly onto the aid. Do not improvise with pins, needles or compressed air. A water-resistant rating does not mean the aid should be rinsed or submerged.
Treat the ear separately from the device
Cleaning a hearing aid is not the same as cleaning the ear canal. Do not insert the device tool or cotton bud into the ear. If wax repeatedly blocks the aid, ask a pharmacist, audiologist or clinician about ear care that is safe for your history.
The FDA hearing-aid overview distinguishes regulated hearing aids from amplification products and points users back to professional and device-specific support. Use the manufacturer or provider when output changes after routine cleaning.
When should you stop?
Arrange service if you find a cracked shell, damaged wire, corrosion, loose dome, blocked receiver you cannot safely clear, or reduced sound that persists. Stop wearing the aid and seek clinical advice if it causes pain, broken skin, swelling or discharge.