Lowering your chance of depression, minimizing the danger of falling, and improving cognitive ability are some of the surprising health benefits that have been proven to come from using hearing aids. Which is why it can be so aggravating when these devices fail to function properly. The difference between an enjoyable dinner with family or a terrible time can be made by discovering a quick remedy when your hearing aid starts screeching with feedback or goes silent entirely.
Luckily, there are some practical troubleshooting measures you can take which may alleviate or address some common hearing aid problems. Finding out what’s happening with your hearing aid as fast as possible will can you back to what’s important all the sooner.
Maybe The Batteries Need to be Changed
A low battery is one of the most prevalent issues with hearing aids. Some hearing aids have rechargeable batteries. Changeable batteries are standard on other models. If you’re going through any of these symptoms, it probably means the batteries are the reason for your hearing aid issues.
- Weak sounds: You’re battling to hear what’s taking place around you and that seems to be occurring more and more.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: There’s a good chance that your battery is the problem if your hearing aid keeps shutting itself off or won’t turn on at all.
- Dull sound quality: It seems like somebody is talking to you underwater or from across the room.
Some solutions:
- Ensure the batteries are completely charged. Allow your rechargeable batteries to charge overnight or for at least a few hours.
- Check twice to make certain the correct batteries are used. Putting the wrong type of battery in your hearing aid can result in malfunctions. (At times, the wrong type of battery can be purchased in the correct size, so double-checking is crucial.)
- Exchange the batteries if your hearing aid is designed to allow that. You may need to take your hearing aid in to a professional if the battery is sealed inside.
Try to Clean Every Surface
Hearing aids, obviously, spend a lot of time in your ears. And there’s a lot happening in there (your ears are like party rooms, only more hygienic). So it’s no surprise that your hearing aids may get a little dirty in the process of helping you hear. Most hearing aid models are manufactured to cope with a certain amount of earwax buildup, but it’s a practical idea to have a regular cleaning plan too. A few issues connected to buildup and dirt might include:
- Discomfort: If they feel like they’re suddenly too big for your ears, it could be because earwax accumulation has started interfering with the fit. Occasionally, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be replaced.
- Muffled sound: If your hearing aid sounds like it’s lost behind something, it might just be. There could be earwax or other accumulation getting in the way.
- Feedback: The feedback canceling function on your hearing aid can be interrupted by earwax buildup causing a whistling sound.
Some solutions:
- The tip of your hearing aid can become covered and clogged up by earwax and debris so look for that. Clean with your cleaning tool or as directed by the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Ensure you are sending your hearing aids to a professional for routine cleaning and maintenance.
- Lightly clean your hearing aids, as per the manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Examine the earwax filter to ensure it is clean; replace it if needed.
Try Giving Yourself Some Time
The hearing aid itself isn’t necessarily the problem. When your brain isn’t used to hearing the outside world, it can take some time to get used to your new hearing aids. Particular sounds (the buzzing of an air conditioner, for instance) may initially seem unpleasantly loud. You might also detect that certain consonant sounds may seem overly pronounced.
These are all signs that your brain is racing to catch up to sound again and, in time, you’ll adapt.
But it’s worthwhile to get help with any problems before too much time goes by. If your hearing aids are uncomfortable or you’re experiencing continuous noise issues or things don’t seem to be working just the way they ought to be, we can help get you back on track and make sure you’re enjoying, not enduring, your hearing aids.