You go out of your way to be certain your hearing aids are well cared for. When you go to sleep, you always put them snuggly on the charger and you clean them every day.
Suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids aren’t working the way they used to. Thankfully, there are a few measures you can take to diagnose the problem. Not doing any additional damage is your number one priority so you won’t have 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 place. You’ll want to take it out so you can utilize it for troubleshooting and, potentially, maintenance. Using your owner’s manual is crucial because every model of hearing aid is different.
Here are some things you can check on most models:
- Check for noticeable damage: Does your hearing aid have any noticeable loose components or cracks around its shell? If you find cracks, it could indicate that moisture is getting in and there could be more extensive damage.
- Check your battery: You’ll still want to check the battery power even if you had your hearing aids on the charger overnight. If your hearing aid has replaceable batteries, it might not be a bad plan to check if those batteries are inserted properly or if a new one fixes the problem.
- Keep your microphone clear: Look for anything obstructing the microphone of your hearing aid. Your hearing aid might feedback or simply fail to work if the microphone is blocked.
- Wax accumulation: Be certain that there is no wax on your hearing aid by giving it a visual inspection. Wax can build up quickly even if you clean your hearing aids frequently so make it a point to double check.
Again, check with your owner’s manual on how you should address each of these issues. In some cases, you may be able to perform maintenance yourself.
When does my hearing aid need repair?
Your hearing aid will most likely have to be professionally repaired if you do routine maintenance and it still malfunctions. That may not always sound desirable, after all, you rely on your hearing aid for daily communication (not to mention dinners with your family, keeping up to date with your favorite Netflix series, and so on).
You won’t necessarily be without your hearing aid for extended 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 leave.
Or, depending on the level of the damage, you could get your hearing aids back in a few hours.
There are still some cases where such fast repair is not possible. A backup set of hearing aids may be needed in these cases. Perhaps you have an old pair that will do temporarily in a pinch. We may even be able to loan you a pair while you are waiting.
Don’t wait to get help with your hearing aids
It’s crucial to get your hearing aid assessed and repaired if you begin to notice the sound quality is starting to falter.
You’ll want to try to avoid any downtime. Your mental health and your overall health can be impacted by untreated hearing loss. And it becomes all too easy to leave your hearing aids laying in a drawer somewhere while your hearing continues to decline.
The optimum way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep those hearing aids working. And the best way to do that is to clean them, keep them charged, and, when needed, bring your hearing aids to get some professional repair.