Whenever you’re about to leave the house, you likely run through a quick mental checklist to ensure you’re you’ve grabbed the essentials for your day: cell phone, wallet, keys, etc. But are you checking to ensure you have both of your hearing aids?

It may sound surprising, but a lost hearing aid is much more common than you might think. One of the virtues of modern hearing aids is that they’re quite small. While that makes them more comfortable and discreet, it also means they can easily be misplaced. Thankfully, new hearing aid technology comes with more than just the tools to support your hearing—it can also help you find misplaced or lost hearing aids.

Many modern hearing aids offer tracking features through smartphone apps, making finding a lost hearing aid easier and saving you from frantically searching your home or needing to replace your devices altogether. Learn what to do when you realize your device is missing and how to find a lost hearing aid quickly and easily.

If you’ve noticed you’ve lost a hearing aid, don’t panic. The key to your search might be in the palm of your hand. Modern hearing aids, including Miracle-Ear hearing aids, can be connected to a smartphone app that can help you locate your devices. This can be a crucial tool and should be your first step in locating the lost hearing aid if a quick search of your immediate area doesn’t reveal the device.

App function and design may vary slightly between hearing aid models and manufacturers, but most modern pairs of hearing aids include this technological feature to help start your search.

The Miracle-Ear app—available for both iOS and Android devices—provides Miracle-Ear hearing aid users with the tools they need to personalize and improve their hearing experience. Another key feature of the Miracle-Ear app is its lost hearing aids finder. Using the Find My Hearing Aids location feature, app users can locate lost hearing aid(s) by using the system’s GPS location services whenever the hearing aids aren’t connected to the mobile app.

If you have enabled GPS settings on your smartphone and have paired your phone and hearing aids at least once, the app will display the last known GPS location of your hearing aids. To track the location of your hearing aids in the Miracle-Ear app:

• Open the Miracle-Ear app
• Select “Services” at the bottom of the screen
• Choose “Find My Hearing Aids”
• Tap on “Connected”
• Select “Find My Hearing Aids “

Once you’ve selected “Find My Hearing Aids”, your app will display a map of the GPS location of your hearing aids. For the best possibility of finding your devices, keep the app open or active in the background so your devices can stay connected and provide the most accurate information to locate your hearing aids. If you have questions, a hearing care professional at Miracle-Ear can show you how to navigate the app.

It’s important to know what to do in the case of a lost hearing aid, but avoiding the situation altogether is even better. Here are a few tips for hearing aid loss prevention:

• Invest in hearing aid clips to secure your devices if you exercise regularly or participate in sports.
• Avoid leaving hearing aids within reach of children or pets.
• Remove face masks carefully to avoid the loops snagging on your device.
• Designate a specific storage spot, such as your charger, to place your hearing aids anytime you take them out of your ears. Have plans for both when you’re at home and when you’re out and about.
• Make sure that your hearing aids fit properly and visit your local Miracle-Ear store to adjust the fit as needed.
• Avoid taking out your hearing aids and setting them aside.

Losing a hearing aid can be a scary feeling, but there are solutions to make sure your hearing is still protected. Schedule an appointment with a hearing care specialist at your local Miracle-Ear to learn more about how you can prevent hearing aid loss before it happens.