I sent a hearing aid in to the manufacturer for accidental damage today. It was under warranty and so the patient had to include an explanation of what happened on the claim form. Here’s what happened:

Hazards to hearing aids, other than cute kids with buckets of water, include the following:

The washer: Don’t put hearing aids in your pocket.

The salon: Don’t put a hearing aid in a tissue in your purse. Old tissues get thrown out.

Hospitals: Hearing aids can get lost in emergency situations where your life is the priority.

Dogs: If your hearing aid is on the night stand, your dog can hear the feedback. Upon canine investigation it is discovered that a hearing aid smells like you and that is apparently tasty.)

Hearing aids have a 2-3 year warranty and it can be extended up to 5 years. They usually last longer, but they’re like an old car at that point. They become unreliable because of exposure to heat, moisture, and wax. Hearing aids can often be repaired beyond 5 years, but not always because the parts may be discontinued.

There are a few manufacturers that make phone apps that can help you find a lost aid (currently Oticon and ReSound). It’s like GPS. It shows a map of the location of your hearing aid. When you go to the location you have a bar graph that goes up the closer you get.