You take good care of your hearing aids. When you go to bed, you always put them snuggly on the charger and you clean them daily.
Suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids are no longer working the way they once did. There are several things you can do to troubleshoot the problem, thankfully. Just don’t forget: your number one job is to refrain from damaging your hearing aid additionally (or you may need to replace them).
Hearing aid troubleshooting
Naturally, when you first got your nice new hearing aids, you made a point of storing the owner’s manual in a safe spot. You’ll want to pull it out so you can use it for troubleshooting and, potentially, maintenance. 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:
- Keep your microphone clear: Check your hearing aid to see if anything is obstructing the microphone. An obstructed microphone can cause feedback or can cause your hearing aids to sound broken or quiet.
- 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 build up quickly, so it’s worth checking this off your list.
- Look for visible damage: Do you notice any visible cracks or loose components around the shell of your hearing aid? Cracks, clearly, could suggest more significant damage (or allow in moisture).
- Check your battery: Even if you know your hearing aids charged all night, you’ll want to double-check the battery power. It might be a good idea to check if you might need new batteries or if the old ones are properly inserted, especially if your batteries are replaceable.
Once again you can find out how to deal with each of these concerns by consulting your owner’s manual. In some cases, you may be able to perform maintenance yourself.
How will I know when my hearing aid needs repair?
If your hearing aid continues to malfunction after you’ve performed basic upkeep and troubleshooting, it’s likely that your hearing aid will have to be professionally repaired. You need your hearing aids for nearly every facet of your life so this may not sound that appealing.
You won’t necessarily be without your hearing aid for extended periods of time just because it needs to be serviced. In some instances, we can repair your hearing aid in office while you wait.
Or, depending on the level of the damage, you could get your hearing aids back in a few hours.
But rapid repair won’t be possible in every case. And in those cases, you may find yourself in need of a backup set of hearing aids. Perhaps you have an old pair that will do temporarily in a pinch. Or maybe we have a loaner pair you can borrow.
Get assistance with your hearing aids without delay
If the audio quality is beginning to falter, it’s essential to get your hearing aids checked and repaired.
Any degree of downtime needs to be prevented. 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 best way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep those hearing aids working. Keeping them charged, clean, and when needed, professionally repaired is the best way to do that.
