You take good care of your hearing aids. When you go to bed, you always put them comfortably on the charger and you clean them daily.
Suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids aren’t working the way they used to. Thankfully, there are a few steps you can take to diagnose the problem. Just remember: your number one job is to avoid damaging your hearing aid further (or you may have to replace them).
Hearing aid troubleshooting
You kept the owner’s manual that came with your shiny new hearing aids, right? You’ll want to pull it out so you can use it for troubleshooting and, possibly, maintenance. Every model of hearing aid can be somewhat different so it’s essential to follow the manual’s guidelines.
Here are some things you can check on most models:
- Look for visible damage: Do you notice 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 might be more significant damage.
- 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 might be a good plan to check if those batteries are inserted properly or if a new one solves the issue.
- Keep your microphone clear: Look for anything obstructing the microphone of your hearing aid. Your hearing aid might feedback or merely fail to work if the microphone is blocked.
- Wax accumulation: Make sure there is no wax on your hearing aid by giving it a visual check. Even if you undertake routine cleaning, sometimes wax can accumulate quickly, so it’s worth ticking this off your list.
Once again you can discover how to address each of these concerns by referring to your owner’s manual. Self-maintenance is sometimes possible.
How can I tell when my hearing aid needs repair?
Your hearing aid will most likely have to be professionally repaired if you do routine maintenance and it still malfunctions. You need your hearing aids for nearly every facet 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 repaired. 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 help and have them back in a matter of a few hours (this, obviously, depends on the degree of the damage, all the more reason to bring your devices in for repair as soon as you can).
But rapid repair will not be possible in all cases. A backup pair of hearing aids may be necessary in these cases. So if you have an old pair lying around, ask whether they will serve temporarily. Or maybe we have a loaner pair you can borrow.
Don’t wait to get help with your hearing aids
If the audio quality is starting to fail, it’s essential to get your hearing aids checked and repaired.
You’ll want to avoid any downtime. Neglected hearing loss can affect your general health, including your mental health. Moreover, once your hearing aids are forgotten in a box somewhere, it’s all too easy to pretend they don’t exist, meanwhile, your hearing grows worse and worse.
Keeping those hearing aids in excellent working order is the secret to keeping your hearing healthy. Keeping them charged, clean, and when necessary, professionally repaired is the best way to do that.