You go out of your way to make sure your hearing aids are well cared for. When you go to sleep, you always put them comfortably on the charger and you clean them every day.
But you get pretty distressed when your hearing aids abruptly stop working the way they used to. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem. Just remember: your main job is to avoid damaging your hearing aid additionally (or you might need to replace them).
Hearing aid troubleshooting
You saved the owner’s manual that came with your shiny new hearing aids, right? Hopefully, you did so that you can consult with your owner’s manual to undertake maintenance and troubleshooting. Every model of hearing aid can be rather different so it’s important to follow the manual’s recommendations.
On most models there are some other things you can check, here are a few:
- Keep your microphone clear: Look for anything obstructing the microphone of your hearing aid. An obstructed microphone can cause feedback or can cause your hearing aids to sound broken or quiet.
- Look for visible damage: Does your hearing aid have any noticeable loose components or cracks in its shell? Cracks, obviously, could suggest more extensive damage (or allow in moisture).
- Wax accumulation: Be certain that there is 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 your battery: Even if you know your hearing aids charged all night, you’ll want to double-check the battery power. If your hearing aid has replaceable batteries, it may be a good plan to check if those batteries are inserted properly or if a new one fixes the problem.
Once again you can learn how to address each of these concerns by referring to your owner’s manual. Self-maintenance is sometimes possible.
When does my hearing aid need repair?
If your hearing aid continues to malfunction after you have performed basic maintenance and troubleshooting, it’s likely that your hearing aid will have to be professionally repaired. That may not always sound desirable, after all, you rely on your hearing aid for day-to-day communication (not to mention dinners with your family, staying up to date with your favorite Netflix series, and so on).
It’s definitely worth taking note that “repair” doesn’t always translate into “send your hearing aids in for service and wait a few weeks”. In some cases, we can do the repair in office and you can take it with you when you go.
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, obviously, depends on the extent of the damage, all the more reason to bring your devices in for repair as soon as possible).
But fast repair won’t be possible in every case. And in those situations, you may find yourself in need of a backup pair of hearing aids. Perhaps you have an old pair that will do temporarily in a pinch. Or it’s possible that we have a loaner pair you can borrow.
Get help with your hearing aids without delay
It’s crucial to get your hearing aid assessed and repaired if you begin to notice the sound quality is starting to fail.
You’ll want to try to avoid any downtime. Your mental health and your overall health can be impacted by untreated hearing loss. More to the point, once your hearing aids are ignored in a box somewhere, it’s all too easy to pretend they’re not there, meanwhile, your hearing grows worse and worse.
Keeping those hearing aids in excellent 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.