You might not think about the risks of having your hearing aids around your pets. However, your hearing aids are delicate, and any damage to them not only affects your ability to hear clearly but also your safety and ability to communicate.
Keeping your hearing aids safe from pets means protecting them from getting chewed on or getting hair inside your devices. Even if you have a service animal, it’s still important to know how to keep your hearing aids in good condition.
Common Challenges of Pets Around Hearing Aids
One of the biggest risks of having hearing aids around animals is having your pet treat them as a toy. It can be tempting for your cat or dog to paw at your hearing aids or even chew or play with them. But allowing them to do so can only damage your hearing aids, and it can be dangerous for your pet if they swallow them or the battery. It’s just as important to keep your pets safe from your devices as it is to keep your hearing aids safe from your pets.
Exposure to pet hair can also compromise the sound quality or performance of your hearing aids. Even cuddling or playing excitedly with your pets can cause your hearing aid to move out of place and become uncomfortable. They might even knock them out of your ear and cause you to misplace your device.
Training Pets to Respect Hearing Aids
Part of teaching your pets how to behave includes training them how to interact with your hearing aids. Here are some tips on how to train your pet to leave them alone and keep your hearing aids safe:
- Use positive reinforcement: Reward your pet for staying away from your hearing aids or personal space when you’re handling them.
- Be consistent: Always store your hearing aids in the same secure location when you remove them. Over time, pets will learn these boundaries.
- Create safe routines: Keep hearing aids on a high shelf, inside a case, or in a drawer when not in use.
How Hearing Aids and Service Animals Work Together
For certain types or degrees of hearing loss, a service animal can give you the additional support you need to navigate your surroundings and be able to live your life. While hearing aids amplify and clarify sounds, service animals can alert you to things you might miss, especially when background noise or distance makes it hard to hear.
Hearing aids provide improved sound clarity, and a service dog offers visual or physical cues, such as nudging, pawing, or guiding, to signal specific sounds. The two work together so you don’t miss any important alerts, notifications, or sound cues.
Protecting and Maintaining Hearing Aids in Pet-Friendly Homes
Keeping hearing aids safe in a home with animals doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few simple habits, you can protect your devices and keep both your devices and your pets safe.
- Store them safely: Use a protective case or charging station and keep it out of reach of pets.
- Clean them regularly: Wipe your hearing aids daily to remove pet hair, dander, and oils.
- Use a dehumidifier: Moisture from humidity or pet contact can affect your hearing aids, so dry them overnight.
- Schedule professional maintenance: Regular cleanings and tune-ups can prevent issues caused by pet-related buildup.
Caring for Hearing Aids While Loving Your Pets With Beltone DFW
Your pets are a huge part of your life. Even if you do everything right, they might get a hold of your hearing aids, and you find yourself in need of adjustments or repairs. The hearing care specialists at Beltone DFW can restore your devices so you can get the best sound quality and fit.
There’s no need to worry if your pets mess with your devices. Our hearing aid centers in Dallas-Fort Worth offer hearing aid fittings, professional cleaning, and more to remove any dander or hair and ensure your hearing aids are correctly positioned.
