You take care of your hearing aids. Cleaning them daily, you make sure they’re safe and comfortable on their charger when you go to bed.
Suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids aren’t working the way they once did. There are several things you can do to troubleshoot the problem, luckily. Not doing any more damage is your number one priority so you won’t need to replace them.
Hearing aid troubleshooting
You saved the owner’s manual that came with your shiny new hearing aids, right? You’ll want to take it out so you can utilize it for troubleshooting and, possibly, maintenance. Following your owner’s manual is essential because every model of hearing aid is different.
Here are some things you can check on most models:
- Keep your microphone clear: Check your hearing aid to find out if anything is obstructing the microphone. A blocked microphone can create feedback or can cause your hearing aids to sound broken or silent.
- Wax buildup: Make sure there’s no wax on your hearing aid by giving it a visual inspection. Even if you perform regular cleaning, sometimes wax can accumulate quickly, so it’s worth ticking this off your list.
- Check for visible damage: Do you observe any visible cracks or loose components around the shell of your hearing aid? If you discover cracks, it could suggest that moisture is getting in and there may be more significant damage.
- Check your battery: Even if you know your hearing aids spent the night on the charger, you’ll want to double-check the battery power. If your hearing aid has replaceable batteries, it might not be a bad idea to check if those batteries are inserted properly or if a new one solves the issue.
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you should address each of these issues. In some cases, you may be able to perform maintenance yourself.
How can I tell when my hearing aid requires repair?
Your hearing aid will probably need to be professionally repaired if you do routine upkeep and it still malfunctions. You need your hearing aids for almost every aspect of your life so this may not sound really appealing.
You won’t necessarily be without your hearing aid for lengthy periods of time just because it needs to be serviced. Sometimes, we can fix it in office and you can take it with you when you go.
Or, depending on the extent of the damage, you could have your hearing aids back in a few hours.
There are still some cases where such quick repair isn’t possible. And in those situations, you might find yourself needing a backup set of hearing aids. So if you have an old pair lying around, ask whether they will serve temporarily. Or it’s possible that we have a loaner pair you can use.
Don’t wait to get help with your hearing aids
It’s crucial to get your hearing aid assessed and repaired if you begin to notice the audio quality is beginning to fail.
You’ll want to prevent any downtime. Neglected hearing loss can impact your overall health, including your mental health. More to the point, once your hearing aids are forgotten in a box somewhere, it’s all too easy to pretend they’re not there, all the while, your hearing gets worse and worse.
Keeping those hearing aids in good working order is the secret to keeping your hearing healthy. And the ideal way to do that is to clean them, keep them charged, and, when necessary, take your hearing aids to get some professional repair.
