You go above and beyond to make sure your hearing aids are well taken care of. When you go to bed, you always put them snuggly on the charger and you clean them daily.
Suddenly and discouragingly, your hearing aids are no longer working the way they used to. There are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the issue, luckily. Not doing any further damage is your top priority so you won’t need to replace them.
Hearing aid troubleshooting
Naturally, when you first got your sweet new hearing aids, you made a point of putting the owner’s manual in a safe spot. Hopefully, you did so that you can check with your owner’s manual to perform maintenance and troubleshooting. Each 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:
- Wax buildup: Perform a visual check of your hearing aid to make sure that there is no wax accumulation interfering with standard operation. Wax can build up quickly even if you clean your hearing aids regularly so make sure you double check.
- 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 not be a bad plan to check if those batteries are inserted properly or if a new one resolves the issue.
- Check for noticeable damage: Does your hearing aid have any obvious loose components or cracks in its shell? Cracks, obviously, could suggest more significant damage (or let in moisture).
- 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.
Again, check with your owner’s manual on how you might approach each of these issues. In some cases, you may be able to perform maintenance yourself.
How will I know 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 almost every facet of your life so this may not sound very appealing.
You won’t necessarily be without your hearing aid for lengthy periods of time just because it needs to be repaired. In some instances, we can fix your hearing aid in office while you wait.
Or, you’ll be able to bring your hearing aids in for professional assistance and have them back in just a few hours (this, of course, depends on the degree of the damage, all the more reason to get your devices in for repair as soon as you can).
There are still some cases where such quick repair is not possible. A backup pair of hearing aids may be necessary in these situations. So if you have an old pair lying around, ask whether they will serve on a temporary basis. Or it’s possible that we have a loaner pair you can borrow.
Get help with your hearing aids without delay
If the sound quality is beginning to fail, it’s essential to get your hearing aids checked and repaired.
You’ll want to try to avoid any downtime. Neglected hearing loss can impact your general health, including your mental health. 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 secret to keeping your hearing healthy. Keeping them charged, clean, and when necessary, professionally repaired is the best way to do that.