If you use hearing aids but you’re still having problems hearing, your hearing aids may need professional maintenance.
You take care of your hearing aids. You baby them. Cleaning them on a daily basis, you make certain they are snug on their charger when you go to sleep.
That’s why it’s so irritating that, suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids aren’t working properly. Luckily, troubleshooting the issue is pretty straight forward. Keep in mind: preventing damage is your number one job (or you may need to get new ones).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Always consult your owner’s manual when doing upkeep and troubleshooting as every model of hearing aid can be a bit different. On most models, these things can be checked:
- Wax buildup: Inspect for wax accumulation which could be stopping the standard operation of your hearing aids. Wax builds up quickly so even if you have a routine cleaning schedule you still need to pay attention to this.
- Look for visible damage: Check if there are any noticeable loose components or cracks around the shell of your hearing aid. Cracks, obviously, could reveal more substantial damage (or allow).
- Check your battery: Even if you know your hearing aids spent the night on the charger, you’ll want to double-check the battery level. If your hearing aid has replaceable batteries, it may be a good idea to check if those batteries are in properly or if a new one solves the problem.
- Keep your microphone clear: Check for anything obstructing the microphone of your hearing aid. A blocked microphone can create feedback or can cause your hearing aids to sound broken or silent.
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you should approach each of these issues. In certain cases, you might be capable of performing maintenance yourself. (Your owner’s manual is the best place to start.)
Does my Hearing Aid require Repair – How Can I Tell?
If your hearing aid continues to malfunction after you have done basic maintenance and troubleshooting, it’s probable that your hearing aid will need to be professionally repaired. That may not always sound appealing, after all, you depend on your hearing aid for everyday communication (not to mention dinners with your family, keeping up to date with your favorite Netflix series, and so on).
However, it’s worth noting that “repair” doesn’t always translate into “send your hearing aid out” for service and wait a few weeks. There are some scenarios where it can be repaired in shop while you wait.
So in those situations, you will be able to get your hearing aid back before the day’s end (this, of course, depends on the extent of the damage, that’s all the more reason to bring it in for repair as soon as you can).
Not all cases can be addressed in house though. A backup pair may be necessary in those situations. An old pair may be able to do a decent job as a backup so bring them in with you if you have a pair. We may even have a pair we can let you use while you wait.
Get Help With Your Hearing Aids As Soon as Possible
It’s crucial to have your hearing aids serviced as soon as you experience any falter or fading of the sound quality.
If you do this you will be more likely to prevent any downtime. Your overall health and your mental health are impacted by untreated hearing loss. An even more significant worry is that your hearing will diminish as your hearing aids sit forgotten in a drawer.
Your best chance of getting the maximum help from your hearing aids is to keep them working at their highest quality. Keeping them clean and charged and if necessary, bringing them in for maintenance is the easiest way to do that.