You take care of your hearing aids. When you go to bed, you always put them comfortably on the charger and you clean them every day.
Suddenly and discouragingly, your hearing aids aren’t working the way they once did. There are several things you can do to diagnose the issue, thankfully. Not doing any more damage is your number one priority so you won’t need to replace them.
Troubleshooting your hearing aid
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 use it for troubleshooting and, possibly, maintenance. Each model of hearing aid can be somewhat different so it’s essential to follow the manual’s recommendations.
On most models there are some other things you can check, here are a few:
- Wax buildup: Perform a visual check of your hearing aid to ensure that there’s no wax accumulation interfering with basic functionality. Even if you perform routine cleaning, sometimes wax can accumulate quickly, so it’s worth checking this off your list.
- Look for noticeable damage: Does your hearing aid have any obvious loose components or cracks in its shell? Cracks, clearly, could suggest more significant damage (or allow in moisture).
- Check your battery: You’ll still want to assess the battery power even if you had your hearing aids on the charger at night. If your hearing aid has replaceable batteries, it may be a good idea to check if those batteries are inserted properly or if a new one fixes the issue.
- Keep your microphone clear: Check your hearing aid to find out if anything is blocking the microphone. An obstructed microphone can cause feedback or can cause your hearing aids to sound broken or silent.
Once again you can discover how to deal with each of these issues by referring to your owner’s manual. In some cases, you may be able to perform maintenance yourself.
When does my hearing aid need repair?
Your hearing aid will probably have to be professionally repaired if you do routine upkeep and it still malfunctions. You need your hearing aids for nearly every aspect of your life so this might not sound very appealing.
It’s definitely worth taking note that “repair” doesn’t always translate into “mail your hearing aids in for service and wait several weeks”. In some instances, we can repair your hearing aid in office while you wait.
Or, you’ll be able to bring your hearing aids in for professional help and have them back in a matter of a few hours (this, of course, depends on the degree of the damage, all the more reason to bring your devices in for repair as soon as you can).
But fast repair will not be possible in all cases. A backup set of hearing aids might be necessary in these cases. Perhaps you have an old pair that will do temporarily in a pinch. We might even be able to let you borrow a pair while you are waiting.
Don’t wait to get help with your hearing aids
If the sound quality is beginning to fail, it’s crucial to get your hearing aids checked and repaired.
You’ll want to prevent any downtime. Your mental health and your overall health can be affected by neglected hearing loss. And it becomes all too easy to leave your hearing aids laying in a drawer somewhere while your hearing continues to deteriorate.
Keeping those hearing aids in good working order is the key to keeping your hearing healthy. Keeping them charged, clean, and when needed, professionally repaired is the best way to do that.