You go above and beyond to make sure your hearing aids are well cared for. When you go to sleep, you always put them comfortably on the charger and you clean them daily.
But you get pretty distressed when your hearing aids suddenly stop working the way they did once. There are several things you can do to troubleshoot the issue, thankfully. Just remember: your main job is to avoid damaging your hearing aid additionally (or you may need to replace them).
Troubleshooting your hearing aid
Naturally, when you first got your sweet new hearing aids, you made a point of storing the owner’s manual in a safe spot. You’ll want to get it out so you can use it for troubleshooting and, possibly, maintenance. Every model of hearing aid can be rather different so it’s essential to follow the manual’s guidelines.
Here are some things you can check on most models:
- Keep your microphone clear: Check for anything obstructing the microphone of your hearing aid. Your hearing aid might feedback or simply fail to work if the microphone is obstructed.
- 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 issue.
- Check for visible damage: Do you notice any visible cracks or loose components around the shell of your hearing aid? Cracks, clearly, could suggest more significant damage (or allow in moisture).
- Wax buildup: Make sure there is no wax on your hearing aid by giving it a visual inspection. Wax can accumulate quickly even if you clean your hearing aids frequently so make it a point to double check.
Once again you can discover how to address each of these concerns by consulting your owner’s manual. In some cases, you may be able to perform maintenance yourself.
How will I know when my hearing aid needs repair?
If your hearing aid continues to malfunction after you’ve performed basic maintenance and troubleshooting, it’s likely that your hearing aid will need to be professionally repaired. That might not always sound appealing, after all, you depend on your hearing aid for day-to-day communication (not to mention dinners with your family, staying up to date with your favorite Netflix series, and so on).
It’s definitely worth noting that “repair” doesn’t necessarily mean “send your hearing aids in for service and wait several weeks”. Sometimes, we can fix it in office and you can take it with you when you go.
Or, depending on the degree of the damage, you could get your hearing aids back in a few hours.
There are still some cases where such quick repair is not possible. A backup pair of hearing aids might be required in these cases. So if you have an old pair lying around, ask whether they will serve temporarily. Or maybe we have a loaner pair you can use.
Don’t wait to get help with your hearing aids
If the sound quality is starting to falter, it’s crucial to get your hearing aids checked and repaired.
You’ll want to avoid any downtime. Neglected hearing loss can impact your overall health, including your mental health. Moreover, once your hearing aids are ignored in a box somewhere, it’s all too easy to pretend they don’t exist, meanwhile, your hearing grows worse and worse.
The best way to keep your hearing working properly is to keep those hearing aids working. And the best way to do that is to keep them clean, keep them charged, and, when needed, bring your hearing aids to get some professional repair.
