You take care of your hearing aids. Cleaning them every day, you make sure they’re safe and comfortable on their charger when you go to bed.
But you get pretty distressed when your hearing aids abruptly stop working the way they used to. There are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the problem, luckily. Not doing any more damage is your top priority so you won’t 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 get it out so you can use it for troubleshooting and, possibly, maintenance. Following your owner’s manual is crucial because every model of hearing aid is different.
On most models there are some other things you can check, here are a few:
- Look for noticeable damage: Do you observe any visible cracks or loose components around the shell of your hearing aid? Cracks, clearly, could indicate more significant damage (or let in moisture).
- Keep your microphone clear: Check your hearing aid to find out if anything is obstructing the microphone. A blocked microphone can create feedback or can cause your hearing aids to sound broken or quiet.
- Check your battery: You’ll still want to assess the battery power even if you had your hearing aids charging at night. It may 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.
- Wax buildup: Make sure there’s no wax on your hearing aid by giving it a visual inspection. Even if you undertake regular cleaning, sometimes wax can build up quickly, so it’s worth checking this off your list.
Once again you can learn how to address each of these issues by consulting your owner’s manual. Self-maintenance is sometimes possible.
When does my hearing aid need repair?
Your hearing aid will probably need to be repaired professionally if you do routine maintenance and it still malfunctions. You need your hearing aids for almost every aspect of your life so this may not sound that appealing.
You won’t automatically be without your hearing aid for lengthy periods of time just because it needs to be repaired. In some instances, we can repair 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 a matter of a few hours (this, obviously, depends on the extent of the damage, all the more reason to bring your devices in for repair as soon as possible).
There are still some instances where such quick repair is not possible. And in those cases, you might find yourself in need of a backup pair 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 use.
Get help with your hearing aids without delay
It’s essential to get your hearing aid checked and repaired if you start to notice the sound quality is beginning to falter.
Any degree of downtime should be avoided. Neglected hearing loss can affect your overall health, and that includes your mental health. More to the point, once your hearing aids are ignored in a box somewhere, it’s all too easy to pretend they’re not there, meanwhile, your hearing grows worse and worse.
Keeping those hearing aids in excellent working order is the key to keeping your hearing healthy. Keeping them charged, clean, and when needed, professionally repaired is the best way to do that.