You take care of your hearing aids. Cleaning them daily, you make sure they are safe and comfortable on their charger when you go to bed.
Suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids aren’t working the way they used to. Fortunately, there are a few measures you can take to diagnose the issue. Just don’t forget: your main job is to avoid damaging your hearing aid further (or you may need to replace them).
Hearing aid troubleshooting
Of course, when you first got your nice new hearing aids, you made a point of putting the owner’s manual in a safe spot. Hopefully, you did so that you can consult with your owner’s manual to undertake maintenance and troubleshooting. 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:
- Wax buildup: Make sure there is no wax on your hearing aid by giving it a visual inspection. Wax can build up quickly even if you clean your hearing aids regularly so make it a point to double check.
- Check for visible damage: Does your hearing aid have any obvious loose components or cracks around its shell? If you find cracks, it could mean that moisture is getting in and there could be more significant damage.
- Check your battery: You’ll still want to check the battery power even if you had your hearing aids charging at night. It might be a good idea to check if you may need new batteries or if the old ones are properly inserted, particularly if your batteries are replaceable.
- Keep your microphone clear: Check for anything blocking the microphone of your hearing aid. An obstructed microphone can create feedback or can cause your hearing aids to sound broken or quiet.
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you might address each of these concerns. In some cases, you may be able to perform maintenance yourself.
When does my hearing aid require repair?
If your hearing aid keeps malfunctioning after you’ve performed basic upkeep and troubleshooting, it’s likely that your hearing aid will need to be professionally repaired. That might not always sound desirable, after all, you depend on your hearing aid for daily communication (along with dinners with your family, staying up to date with your favorite Netflix series, and so on).
It’s certainly worth taking note that “repair” doesn’t always translate into “send your hearing aids in for service and wait several weeks”. In some cases, we can fix it in office and you can take it with you when you go.
Or, you’ll be able to take your hearing aids in for professional assistance and get them back in a matter of a few hours (this, obviously, depends on the extent of the damage, all the more reason to get your devices in for repair as soon as possible).
But rapid repair will not be possible in every case. And in those cases, you may find yourself needing a backup set of hearing aids. Perhaps you have an old pair that will do temporarily in a pinch. We may even be able to loan you a pair while you are waiting.
Don’t wait to get help with your hearing aids
It’s essential to get your hearing aid assessed and repaired if you start to notice the audio quality is starting to fail.
You’ll want to try to avoid any downtime. Your mental health and your general health can be impacted by untreated hearing loss. And it becomes all too easy to leave your hearing aids sitting in a drawer somewhere while your hearing continues to decline.
The optimum way to keep your hearing working properly is to keep those hearing aids working. And the best way to do that is to keep them clean, keep them charged, and, when needed, bring your hearing aids to get some professional help.