Living Well at Home UKClear, practical guidance for later life
Practical guide

By Does Your Duck Quack

Hearing aids, batteries and maintenance

Hearing aid care at home: replace NHS batteries, clean and troubleshoot safely, and find repair support if an aid stops working.

Checked: 15 October 2026 · Next review: 15 April 2027 · Applies to: UK, with nation notes
How this guide was prepared

Purpose: urgent guidance · Level: detailed

Checked by: Does Your Duck Quack. Sources are linked below; seek professional advice for individual circumstances.

The short answer

What to do first

Hearing aid care at home: replace NHS batteries, clean and troubleshoot safely, and find repair support if an aid stops working.

Start here: For an NHS aid, contact the audiology service that fitted it about batteries and repairs. It may offer appointments, drop-in clinics or postal help; local arrangements differ. If you have moved, ask the GP or local audiology service how to transfer care and get maintenance support.

Do not wait: Contact an NHS service promptly for sudden hearing loss, new severe ear pain, discharge or a sudden change in balance. Call 999 for a life-threatening emergency; for sudden hearing loss, do not wait for a routine hearing-aid repair appointment.

Visual guides

See the decision at a glance

If a hearing aid stops working
  1. 1. Check powerCheck the battery or charge, volume and visible blockage using the clinic instructions.
  2. 2. Clean gentlyUse the recommended cloth or brush; keep the aid dry and do not poke openings.
  3. 3. Check tubing and fitAsk audiology about damaged tubing, blocked parts or a sore earpiece.
  4. 4. Arrange a repairContact the NHS audiology service about a clinic visit or postal repair.
Disposable or rechargeable?
  1. Battery aidReplace the battery as the service demonstrated and keep loose batteries safely stored.
  2. Rechargeable aidUse the correct charger in a dry place; ask the clinic if charging becomes unreliable.
  3. Both typesFollow the instructions for that aid and do not force a battery door or part.
  4. Sudden hearing lossSeek urgent NHS advice instead of waiting for a routine repair.

Scope of this guide

This guide helps you understand the options and questions to ask. It is not personal medical, legal or financial advice. Check the official sources for your nation and seek qualified help for high-stakes decisions.

If someone may be in immediate danger

Call 999 for a life-threatening emergency. For an urgent problem that is not clearly life-threatening, use the official NHS urgent-care route for the UK nation you are in. Have the address, symptoms, onset time, medicines and allergies ready.

Who this guide is for

NHS hearing-aid users and the people who help them keep devices clean, charged, comfortable and ready for conversation.

A hearing aid may be quiet or uncomfortable because of a flat battery, blocked tubing, wax, poor fit or changed hearing. A safe routine can identify simple faults without damaging the device or ear. Keep the fitting audiology service’s contact details nearby.

What to do now

1. Find the NHS aftercare service

For an NHS aid, contact the audiology service that fitted it about batteries and repairs. It may offer appointments, drop-in clinics or postal help; local arrangements differ. If you have moved, ask the GP or local audiology service how to transfer care and get maintenance support.

2. Clean and store it carefully

Follow the instructions for the particular aid. A soft dry cloth and the clinic’s brush may be suitable for outer surfaces. Keep the device dry and away from sprays or creams. Do not poke pins into openings or the ear. Ask the clinic to show you how to remove wax safely.

3. Change batteries or recharge

Switch off the aid and replace its battery as shown, using the type recommended by the service. Keep loose batteries away from children and anyone who might swallow one. Rechargeable aids need the correct charger and dry charging area. Do not force the battery door; ask for help if sight or dexterity makes this difficult.

4. Check tubing, domes and fit

Cracked, damp or blocked tubing and a poorly seated earpiece can affect sound. Ask the audiology team whether a part needs changing and how to do it. Do not push a dome or tool into the ear. Contact the service if an earpiece is sore, tubing repeatedly comes loose or whistling continues.

5. Troubleshoot and arrange repair

Check power, battery or charge, volume and visible blockage using the instructions. If the aid still fails, ask the audiology service about an appointment, drop-in clinic or postal repair. RNID provides practical information. Sudden hearing loss, ear pain, discharge or a sudden balance change needs prompt NHS advice, not just a repair.

Warning signs and checks

Common questions

Can I get free batteries and repairs for an NHS hearing aid?

The NHS says users of NHS hearing aids can get batteries and repairs from the service that fitted them. Ask how to request help: local services may offer appointments, collection or postal support. For a privately obtained aid, contact its provider. Check compatibility before buying parts.

How do I clean a hearing aid at home?

Use the audiologist’s instructions. A soft dry cloth and clinic brush may suit outer surfaces, but do not wash the electronic aid, use sprays or insert sharp objects into openings or the ear. Ask for a demonstration if wax, moisture or reduced dexterity makes cleaning difficult.

What should I do if my hearing aid stops working?

Check power, battery or charge, volume and visible earpiece blockage using the instructions. If it still fails, contact the fitting service and ask about repair appointments, clinics or postal options. Sudden hearing loss or ear pain needs clinical advice rather than a routine repair appointment.

Can RNID repair my hearing aid?

RNID provides information about common hearing-aid problems. Actual repairs are usually handled by the NHS audiology service or the provider of a privately obtained aid. Some services offer postal repairs or clinics. Contact RNID if you need help understanding options or communicating with the service.

Differences across the UK

Aftercare is provided by local audiology services in all four nations, but referral, repair-clinic and postal arrangements vary by area. Ask the service that fitted the aid how to get batteries and repairs, especially after moving. RNID offers UK-wide information and support but does not replace the NHS audiology team.

When to get urgent help

Contact an NHS service promptly for sudden hearing loss, new severe ear pain, discharge or a sudden change in balance. Call 999 for a life-threatening emergency; for sudden hearing loss, do not wait for a routine hearing-aid repair appointment.

Primary sources

The publisher checked this guide against the 5 official sources below. This is an editorial source check, not approval by a clinician, lawyer or benefits adviser.

Editorial note: By Does Your Duck Quack.