You take care of your hearing aids. Cleaning them daily, you make sure they’re safe and comfortable on their charger when you go to sleep.
Suddenly and discouragingly, your hearing aids are no longer working the way they once did. Thankfully, there are some measures you can take to troubleshoot the problem. Not doing any additional damage is your number one priority so you won’t need to replace them.
Troubleshooting your hearing aid
Naturally, when you first got your nice new hearing aids, you made a point of putting the owner’s manual in a safe spot. You’ll want to pull it out so you can use it for troubleshooting and, possibly, maintenance. Following your owner’s manual is essential because every model of hearing aid is different.
Here are some things you can check on most models:
- Check your battery: Even if you know your hearing aids spent the night on the charger, you’ll want to double-check the battery power. It may be a good idea to check if you may need new batteries or if the old ones are properly inserted, particularly if your batteries are replaceable.
- Keep your microphone clear: Check your hearing aid to see if anything is blocking the microphone. Your hearing aid may feedback or simply fail to work if the microphone is obstructed.
- Look for noticeable damage: Do you observe any visible cracks or loose components around the shell of your hearing aid? If you discover cracks, it could mean that moisture is getting in and there may be more extensive damage.
- Wax buildup: Make sure there’s no wax on your hearing aid by giving it a visual inspection. Wax can build up quickly even if you clean your hearing aids regularly so make sure you double check.
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you might approach each of these issues. Self-maintenance is sometimes possible.
When does my hearing aid require repair?
Your hearing aid will most likely have to be professionally repaired if you do routine maintenance and it still malfunctions. You need your hearing aids for almost every facet of your life so this may not sound really appealing.
It’s certainly worth taking note that “repair” doesn’t always mean “mail your hearing aids in for service and wait several weeks”. 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 just a few hours (this, of course, depends on the extent of the damage, all the more reason to get your devices in for repair as soon as you can).
But fast repair won’t be possible in all cases. And in those cases, you might find yourself needing a backup set of hearing aids. So if you’ve got an old pair lying around, ask whether they will serve temporarily. We might even be able to loan you a pair while you are waiting.
Get assistance with your hearing aids right away
If the sound quality is starting to fail, it’s essential to get your hearing aids checked and repaired.
Any degree of downtime needs to be avoided. Untreated hearing loss can impact your general 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 gets worse and worse.
The best way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep those hearing aids working. Keeping them charged, clean, and when necessary, professionally repaired is the best way to do that.