You take good care of your hearing aids. When you go to sleep, you always put them comfortably on the charger and you clean them every day.
Suddenly and discouragingly, your hearing aids are no longer working the way they once did. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem. Just remember: your main job is to avoid damaging your hearing aid additionally (or you may need to replace them).
Hearing aid troubleshooting
Of course, 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 use it for troubleshooting and, potentially, maintenance. Using your owner’s manual is important because every model of hearing aid is different.
On most models there are some other things you can check, here are a few:
- Check for visible damage: Does your hearing aid have any obvious loose components or cracks around its shell? If you find cracks, it could suggest that moisture is getting in and there may be more extensive damage.
- 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 may need new batteries or if the old ones are correctly inserted, particularly if your batteries are replaceable.
- Wax buildup: Perform a visual inspection of your hearing aid to make sure that there is no wax accumulation interfering with standard functionality. Even if you carry out regular cleaning, sometimes wax can accumulate quickly, so it’s worth checking this off your list.
- Keep your microphone clear: Check for anything obstructing the microphone of your hearing aid. Your hearing aid may feedback or merely fail to work if the microphone is blocked.
Once again you can find out how to address each of these concerns by consulting your owner’s manual. Self-maintenance is sometimes possible.
When does my hearing aid require repair?
Your hearing aid will probably need to be repaired professionally if you do routine upkeep and it still malfunctions. You need your hearing aids for nearly every aspect of your life so this might not sound really appealing.
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 do the repair in office and you can take it with you when you leave.
Or, you’ll be able to take your hearing aids in for professional help and get them back in a matter of a few hours (this, obviously, depends on the extent of the damage, all the more reason to get your devices in for repair as soon as you can).
But quick repair won’t be possible in every case. And in those situations, you may find yourself needing a backup pair of hearing aids. So if you have an old pair lying around, ask whether they will serve temporarily. We may even be able to loan you a pair while you are waiting.
Get help with your hearing aids without delay
It’s crucial to have your hearing aid checked and repaired if you start to notice the sound quality is beginning to fail.
Any amount of downtime should be avoided. Your mental health and your general health can be affected by neglected hearing loss. And it becomes all too easy to leave your hearing aids laying in a drawer somewhere while your hearing continues to diminish.
Keeping those hearing aids in excellent working order is the secret to keeping your hearing healthy. And the best way to do that is to keep them clean, keep them charged, and, when necessary, take your hearing aids to get some professional help.