Cleaning your Oticon hearing aids takes just a few minutes a day and prevents the most common cause of hearing aid repairs: earwax buildup. The basic routine is the same across Oticon models, from the Intent to older behind-the-ear styles. You need a soft, dry cloth and the MultiTool that came with your devices.
Daily Cleaning Routine
Start with clean, dry hands and hold your hearing aids over a soft surface like a towel or bed, so a slip won’t mean a cracked shell on a hard floor. Wipe down the entire surface of each hearing aid with a soft, dry cloth to remove skin oils, dust, and any visible debris. Never wash your hearing aids or dip them in water or any liquid.
Next, clean the earpiece. Wipe it with your cloth to remove wax and debris that accumulated during the day. If your hearing aids have earmolds with a ventilation opening (the small hole that runs through the mold), press the cleaning brush through it while twisting slightly to clear any blockage. For the hearing aid body itself, use the brush end of the Oticon MultiTool to gently sweep debris away from the microphone openings, which are the tiny ports on the outer casing. This is an important step because blocked microphone ports directly reduce sound quality.
One critical warning here: do not push the MultiTool into the microphone openings. Brush across the surface only. Forcing anything into those ports can damage the internal components.
If your hearing aids use disposable batteries, open the battery drawers at night to let moisture escape. If you have rechargeable models, keep the charging pads clean by wiping them with a dry cloth so the contacts charge properly.
Replacing the Wax Filter
The wax filter sits over the sound outlet of your hearing aid, catching earwax before it reaches the speaker. When this filter gets clogged, sound becomes weak or distorted. Wax buildup is the single biggest reason Oticon hearing aids end up needing professional repair, so staying on top of filter changes saves you both frustration and money.
Oticon uses a simple disposable tool for the swap. Each tool has two pins: one empty, one loaded with a fresh filter. Here’s the process:
- Remove the old filter. Push the empty pin straight into the used wax filter, then pull it out. The old filter stays attached to the pin.
- Insert the new filter. Flip the tool around and press the pin with the new filter into the now-empty socket. Pull the tool away and discard it.
Always use the same type of wax filter that originally came with your hearing aids (ProWax or ProWax miniFit, depending on your model). If you’re not sure which one you need, your hearing care provider can confirm. There’s no fixed schedule that works for everyone since some people produce more earwax than others, but checking the filter weekly and replacing it whenever you notice wax covering the mesh is a good habit. If sound starts sounding muffled, a clogged filter is the first thing to check.
Replacing Domes and Grip Tips
The soft silicone dome or Grip Tip that sits in your ear canal is not something you clean and reuse indefinitely. Oticon recommends replacing domes and Grip Tips at least once a month. The material degrades over time, losing its shape and seal, which affects both comfort and sound delivery. Your hearing care provider may suggest a different interval based on your ear chemistry, but monthly is the baseline. Replacement domes are inexpensive and snap on and off the receiver wire easily.
What to Keep Away From Your Hearing Aids
Oticon hearing aids are durable electronics, but certain substances and environments cause real damage. Remove your hearing aids before showering, swimming, or applying any of the following: hairspray, aftershave, perfume, sunscreen, insect repellent, oils, or eardrops. Sunscreen is particularly worth noting because its chemicals can break down the outer shell of the hearing aid over time. Put your hearing aids back in after these products have fully dried or absorbed.
Salt water is another serious threat. If you’re at the beach, take your hearing aids out and store them in their case before getting near the water. And if your hearing aids do get wet, never use a hair dryer or microwave to speed up drying. Both can warp or melt internal components. Simply wipe them down and let them air dry, or place them in a hearing aid dehumidifier if you have one.
Managing Moisture Over Time
Even without direct water exposure, moisture from sweat, humidity, and the warmth of your ear canal accumulates inside hearing aids day after day. Dust and debris on the shell can trap that moisture against the casing and interfere with performance. A hearing aid dehumidifier, either an electronic drying station or a simple jar with a desiccant puck, gives your devices a dry environment overnight and extends their lifespan. This is especially worthwhile if you live in a humid climate or tend to sweat.
For rechargeable Oticon models, check whether your specific charger already includes a drying function. Some charging cases double as dehumidifiers, which simplifies the nightly routine to just placing the aids in the charger.
Quick Reference by Model Type
The core cleaning steps are the same across Oticon’s lineup, including newer models like the Intent. The main differences come down to which earpiece style you have:
- Receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) models. These have a thin wire running to a dome or earmold in your ear canal. Clean the earmold or dome daily, replace domes monthly, and change the wax filter regularly. Brush the microphone ports on the behind-the-ear housing.
- Behind-the-ear (BTE) with earmold. The earmold connects via tubing. Wipe the mold daily and clear the vent with the cleaning brush. The microphone ports on the main body get the same brushing treatment.
- In-the-ear (ITE) and completely-in-canal (CIC) models. Everything sits in one shell inside your ear, so wax exposure is highest. Daily wiping, regular wax filter changes, and brushing the microphone and vent openings are all essential.
Keeping this routine consistent takes less than two minutes a day and is the single most effective thing you can do to keep your Oticon hearing aids sounding clear and lasting as long as possible.