We tend to notice technology the most when it stops working. With hearing aids that’s especially true: To most people who wear them, hearing aids are more than a piece of technology; they’re a critical lifeline to the rest of society.

So discovering solutions for a malfunctioning hearing aid, and discovering those solutions quickly, is crucial for both physiological and emotional reasons. Whether you’ve been using your hearing aids for a week, a year, or decades, troubleshooting can be a risky, troublesome process. But if you want to get your hearing aid working properly again there are some simple steps you can take.

Avoiding Trouble Before it Occurs

Hearing aids are no exception to the rule, like any other piece of technology, they need routine upkeep. Despite the fact that the casing may look simple and robust, the electronics inside can be amazingly sophisticated.

Which means upkeep is a must. There are some easy ways you can make certain to take care of your hearing aids while you’re wearing them.

Keeping Your Hearing Aids Clean is a Must

Every day, a certain amount of wax is naturally and normally created by your ears. And, the ear wax is, to a certain degree good for your ears. But your hearing aids don’t do as well with it. Keeping your hearing aids clear and clean of wax can help improve the longevity of the devices. The fact is that most hearing aids will come with a built-in wax filter that should also be cleaned periodically.

Don’t Allow Your Hearing Aids Get Wet

Moisture and electronics don’t go well together. And despite the best protection technology can produce, repeated subjection to moisture can gradually wear down the internal electronics of your hearing aids, decreasing their performance.

This Means using your hearing aids in the shower or while swimming is a bad idea. Also, dry your hearing aids with a towel if they get wet. Don’t use a hair dryer because it can harm them.

Make an Appointment With Professional Cleaners

Hearing aids are delicate (and often expensive) technology, and as such, they call for specialized cleaning practices. Even if you’re pretty rigorous about your own cleaning habits, there are just some things that can be better accomplished by a specialized cleaner.

That’s why it’s recommended you take your hearing aids in to be cleaned every 4-6 months.

How to Diagnose Existing Problems

Preventative steps are essential if your hearing aids are currently functioning correctly. But if you’re experiencing issues, if your hearing aids aren’t working properly anymore, you’re probably more interested in some quick fixes.

If your hearing aids aren’t working properly, try one of the following steps:

• Inspect your hearing aid for debris or wax build up. If you find any wax accumulation or debris, clear them away.
• Change out your power source or battery, even if your batteries are rechargeable.
• Examine your own ears. It’s possible that earwax accumulation in your ear canal is interfering with the sound from your hearing aid.
• Examine your hearing aids for blemishes, cracks or other visible signs of damage. Your hearing aid may need to be repaired if you notice any of this type of damage.
• Adjust the volume. There will either be a volume dial on the hearing aid or a remote you can use to do this. If your hearing aid has both options, try both ways.
• Look inside the battery compartment. Look for corrosion or loose wiring. If you see any corrosion, you can attempt to carefully clean out, but significant damage will have to be fixed professionally.
• Adjust the settings or toggle between programs. How you deal with it will depend on the model because they’re all different in this way.
• Reboot the device (turn it off and turn it back on). This will correct the issue in some cases.

It’s likely that you will have to get the device fixed by a professional if you want it back to peak performance if none of these steps help.

What if Nothing I Try Helps?

You will likely have two options if you’ve tried to troubleshoot your hearing aid and it still won’t work: you either need to get a new set or send them in for repair. Which choice works best for you will vary depending on your circumstances, how old your hearing aids are, and other variables.

If your hearing aids aren’t working well right now, take the time to try some troubleshooting. If that doesn’t work, you can move on to the next steps, including a discussion with your hearing specialist to determine a solution. Schedule an appointment to find a solution today.