Have you ever been watching your favorite Netflix movie when your internet abruptly disappears? Instead of discovering who won the baking show, you have to watch a never-ending spinning circle. And so you just wait. Maybe it’s your modem, might be your router, possibly it’s the internet company, or possibly it’ll just fix itself. It’s not a great feeling.
Technology can be tremendously frustrating when it doesn’t work correctly. The same is certainly true of your hearing aids. When they’re working correctly, hearing aids can help you stay connected with the ones you love and better hear co-workers when they speak to you.
But when they stop working, your hearing loss symptoms can suddenly become a lot more frustrating. You’ve been disappointed by the technology you depend on. How do hearing aids just stop working? So what can you do? Well, there are three prevalent ways that hearing aids can fail, here’s how you can start to identify and troubleshoot those issues.
Three common issues with hearing aids (and some possible solutions)
Even though hearing aids are sophisticated technology, people may experience three common problems with them. Let’s take a look at possible causes of these problems and potential fixes.
Feedback and whistling
Perhaps you suddenly start to hear a terrible high-pitched whistling while you’re attempting to have a chat with a friend or family member. Or perhaps you notice a little bit of feedback. You begin to think, “this is strange, what’s up with this whistling”?
Whistling and feedback can be caused by these possible problems:
- The tubing that attaches the hearing aid with the earmold, on behind-the-ear models, can sometimes become compromised. Try to inspect this tubing as well as you can and make certain nothing is loose and the tube doesn’t appear damaged.
- Earwax accumulation in your ear canal can undermine the way your hearing aid functions. This is a rather common one. That includes making your hearing aid whistle or feedback. You can attempt to clean some of the earwax out (never use a cotton swab) and if that fails, you can get some help from us.
- You might not have your hearing aids seated properly in your ears. Try to remove them and re-seat them. If the fit isn’t right you might need to come see us so we can help you get a better fit.
If these problems are not easily resolvable, it’s worth speaking with us about correcting the fit or sending your device in for servicing (depending on what we think the root cause of that whistling or feedback might be).
No sound coming from your hearing aids
The main goal of hearing aids is to produce sound. That’s their principal function! Something has undoubtedly gone wrong if you can’t hear any sound coming from your hearing aid. So what could be the cause when hearing aids work but no sound comes out? Here are several things to watch for:
- Earwax buildup: Here we go again with the earwax! Examine your device for indications of earwax on the microphone or speakers or any sensitive bits. You want to be sure the device is nice and clean.
- Your settings: Cycle through the personalized settings if your device includes them. Your hearing aids may think you’re in a very large room when you’re actually in a small room because the setting isn’t right. The sound you’re hearing might be off as a consequence.
- Power: Everyone forgets to turn their hearing aids on once in a while. Check for this first. This possible problem can then be eliminated..
- Batteries: Make certain your batteries are fully charged. And whether your batteries are rechargeable or not, it may be worth swapping them out for fresh ones.
If these steps don’t help with your issues, we might have the answers. We’ll be able to help you find out the next steps, and whether maintenance, repair, or replacement is needed.
Your ears hurt while you’re wearing your hearing aids
What if your hearing aids are working fine, but whenever you put them in your ears, your ears begin to hurt? And you’re most likely wondering why your hearing aids would make your ears hurt. This sort of discomfort is not exactly conducive to wearing your hearing aids over the long term. So, why do they hurt?
- Time: Getting accustomed to your hearing aids will take some time. Each person will have a different adjustment period. It’s worth talking about when you buy your hearing aids so you have a realistic idea of how long it might take you to become comfortable with your devices. Also, speak with us about any discomfort you may be experiencing.
- Fit: The fit of the device is the most evident problem. After all, the majority of hearing aids work best when they fit tightly. Which means that there can occasionally be pain involved in a poor fit. Many hearing aids can be tailored to your specific ears. Over the long haul, you will have fewer issues if you have a snug fit. If you come in for a consultation, we can help you get the best fit for your device.
Bypass issues with a little test drive
Before you decide on a pair of hearing aids, it’s a good plan to try them out for a while. Most of the time we will have loaner pairs for you to try out before you make a decision.
In fact, we can help you determine the best kind of hearing aid for your requirements, adjust the fit to match your ears, and help you handle any ongoing issues you might have with your devices. In other words, when your devices quit working, you’ll have a resource that can help!
And that’s most likely more reliable than your internet company.