Kenwood's Elves

Look at what else we've been doing this Christmas season in addition to helping people hear better.  Happy Holidays everyone!
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Keep your hearing aids clean!

Why is it important to keep your hearing aids and earmolds clean?

The ear is a dark, warm, moist place where bacteria and other germs, some good and some bad, like to grow. These bacteria or germs get on the surfaces of your hearing aid or earmold and continue to grow. Some of these bacteria or germs are not part of your ear's normal environment and can easily infect the skin of your ear canal. This may cause itchiness, redness, swelling, pain and ear odor.

Poor maintenance is a common reason why hearing aids to do not work. Most of the time, hearing aid repairs are necessary due to ear wax, body oil, various moisture, dirty hands, oily hands.

All of the above can cause clogging and breakdown of hearing aids. If you don't clean your hearing aids appropriately, in a short period of time earwax, dirt or moisture will clog up components in a way that your hearing aids will need to be repaired.  If they're out of warranty, the repair will cost you money. More importantly, you'll be without your hearing aids during that repair period, and we want to avoid that.

Cleaning your hearing aids the right way is important!  Wiping them with a tissue is NOT enough. Using alcohol pads is NOT a good idea. Here's why:

Your hearing aids will become contaminated with bacteria or other germs. Since these devices are worn in the ear, it is important to make sure that your hearing aids are cleaned and disinfected properly. Your hearing aids are made from special material that requires special cleaning. Using alcohol will ruin surfaces quickly. Only use what is recommended by your Audiologist.  We like our patients to use a product called Clean Aid™, available at all 3 of our locations.

Need help?  Call us for an apopintment and we will show you just how to do it!

Tax Tips

As 2010 draws to a close you may be starting to think of tax saving moves you could make.  There are two ways to save on your taxed if you have a hearing loss.

1. The cost of hearing aids, or related products are deductible as a medical expense. So if you have put off buying hearing aids or you need new ones, now is the time.  Pay for them in 2010 and take a medical expense deduction.

2. Donate your old hearing aids to charity.  The Quota International Club of Toledo has a hearing aids loan bank and is always in need of good used hearing aids.  If your hearing aids are no longer working, they can still be donated to Quota Club.  These are recycles at a repair facility.  The ones that can be repaired are, and the others are used for parts and Quota receives credits to have other aids repaired.  Kenwood Hearing Center is a drop-off point for your old hearing aids.