Hearing aids have been proven to support your health in unsuspected ways including enhancing cognitive function, reducing depression, and decreasing your risk of falls. Which is why it can be so frustrating when these devices have malfunctions. The difference between a delightful dinner with family or a horrible time can be made by finding a quick remedy when your hearing aid starts screeching with feedback or goes silent altogether.
The good news is, there are some basic troubleshooting measures you can take that could relieve or manage some typical hearing aid problems. figuring out what’s wrong with your hearing aid as quickly as you will can you back to what’s important all the sooner.
Maybe The Batteries Need to be Swapped Out
A low battery is one of the most common issues with hearing aids. Rechargeable batteries come standard with some hearing aid models. Other devices are made to have their batteries exchanged. Here are some of the symptoms that may lead you to believe the batteries are the bad guy when your device goes on the fritz:
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: If your hearing aid won’t turn on, or keeps shutting off, there’s a good possibility the battery is the primary problem.
- Dull sound quality: It feels as if someone is talking to you underwater or from across the room.
- Weak sounds: You feel like you are constantly straining to hear what’s happening around you.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Double-check to make certain the right batteries are installed. Putting the wrong type of battery into your hearing aid can cause malfunctions. (Occasionally, a battery will seem to be the same size as a different battery so it’s essential that you be cautious and check twice.)
- Ensure the batteries are completely charged. Allow your rechargeable batteries to charge overnight or at least for several hours.
- If you have replaceable batteries, replace them on a regular basis. You may need to take your hearing aid in to a specialist if the battery is sealed inside.
Every Surface Should be Cleaned
Hearing aids, naturally, spend a lot of time in your ears. And your ears have a lot going on inside of them. So while helping you hear, it’s no surprise that your hearing aid can get somewhat dirty. Most hearing aid models are designed to cope with a certain amount of earwax accumulation, but it’s a practical idea to have a regular cleaning schedule also. A few problems related to buildup and dirt could include:
- Discomfort: Earwax can accumulate to the point where the fit of your hearing aid becomes a little tight. The plastic will occasionally need to be replaced if it starts to harden.
- Feedback: The feedback canceling function on your hearing aid can be interrupted by earwax buildup generating a whistling noise.
- Muffled sound: Earwax and other buildup can cause your hearing aid to sound like it’s buried beneath something.
Some solutions:
- The tip of your hearing aid can become coated and clogged up by earwax and debris so check for that. Clean with your cleaning tool or as directed by the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Clean your hearing aid gently in the way that the manufacturer has instructed.
- Bringing your hearing aid to a professional for routine upkeep is an essential procedure.
- Check the earwax filter to make sure it is clean; replace it if needed.
You May Just Need Some Time
The hearing aid itself isn’t necessarily the issue. When your brain isn’t used to hearing the outside world, it can take a little time to get used to your new hearing aids. Certain sounds (the buzzing of an air conditioner, for example) may initially seem unpleasantly loud. You might also notice that certain consonant sounds might seem overly pronounced.
As your brain works to catch up, over time, you’ll adapt.
But it’s worthwhile to get help with any problems before too much time passes. If your hearing aids are not comfortable or you’re experiencing continuous noise problems or things don’t seem to be working exactly the way they ought to be, we can help get you back on track and make sure you’re enjoying, not enduring, your hearing aids.
