Placing your hearing aids correctly can make all the difference in how well they work—and how well you can hear. The tips below will help you learn how to put in hearing aids, but keep in mind that your Miracle-Ear hearing care professional will instruct you on inserting your hearing aids the first time and will always be there to help you make adjustments.

The specifics of how to put in hearing aids depend on the type of hearing aid you have, but some general tips apply no matter what kind of device you’re using:

• Identify which hearing aid is for the right ear and which is for the left. Some are color-coded (red for the right and blue for the left), and others are marked.
• Stand in front of a mirror while you put in hearing aids to get a better view.
• Make sure your hearing aids have been cleaned before you put them in. It’s a good idea to clean them as part of your bedtime routine, but if you skip it one night, you can still take a moment to clean them in the morning.
• Use your right hand to put in your right hearing aid and your left hand to put in your left hearing aid.
• If you’re new to hearing aids, practice! It takes some time to get used to inserting hearing aids, and the more you do it, the more it will feel like second nature.

Hearing aid maintenance and cleaning do two things. First, it ensures that you are getting the best possible hearing experience and receiving all of the benefits that hearing aids can give you. Second, it protects your investment. With those things in mind, taking a few minutes to maintain your hearing aids is well worth it. To clean hearing aids, you’ll need:

• Soft, dry cloth
• Wax pick/wire loop
• Cleaning brush
• Bulb blower
• A dehumidifier or drying jar

It’s a good idea to make cleaning your hearing aids a habit. When you do it is up to you, but consistency is key. A cleaning session for your hearing aids should include:

• Using a pick and/or brush to clean out wax from small spaces like hearing aid domes
• Wiping down the devices with a soft, dry cloth
• Using a bulb blower to remove moisture from tubes if your device has them
• Placing them in a dehumidifier or drying jar overnight to evaporate any moisture

Learn even more in our guide to cleaning hearing aids.