Difficulty hearing? Here’s how to know if your hearing aids need repair.
You take good care of your hearing aids. You baby them. Cleaning them daily, you make sure they are snug on their charger when you go to bed.
That’s why it’s so annoying that, suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids aren’t working properly. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to resolve the problem. Just remember: your number one task is to avoid damaging your hearing aid further (otherwise replacing them could be necessary).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Always consult your owner’s manual when doing upkeep and troubleshooting because every model of hearing aid can be a bit different. Here are a few things you can check on most models:
- Keep your microphone clear: Check for anything blocking the microphone of your hearing aid. A blocked microphone can cause feedback or can make your hearing aid sound silent or broken.
- Wax buildup: Inspect for wax buildup which could be stopping the standard functionality of your hearing aids. Wax accumulates rapidly so even if you have a regular cleaning schedule you still need to check for this.
- Examine your battery: Always check your battery level even if you are sure your hearing aid sat on the charger all night. If your hearing aid has replaceable batteries, it may not be a bad idea to check if those batteries are in correctly or if a new one solves the problem.
- Look for visible damage: Cracks or loose components could occur around the shell of your hearing aids so remember to check for that. Cracks, clearly, could reveal more extensive damage (or allow).
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you might tackle each of these issues. Self maintenance will be possible in certain cases. (But, again, read the instructions.)
When Does my Hearing Aid Need Servicing?
Your hearing aid will probably require professional repair if you continue to have issues with it after performing these basic maintenance tasks. Because you rely on your hearing aids for all of your basic conversations and social activities, this probably doesn’t sound very appealing.
However, it’s worth mentioning that “repair” doesn’t always translate into “send your hearing aid out” for service and wait several weeks. Sometimes, we can repair it while you wait.
That means, in some cases, you’ll be able to bring your hearing aids in for professional maintenance and have them back in a matter of minutes or hours (this is why it’s a smart idea to bring your hearing aid to us so we can ascertain the damage).
There are still some circumstances where such rapid repair is not feasible. A backup pair could be necessary in those situations. So if you have an old pair lying around, ask us whether they will serve on a temporary basis. There might even be a loaner pair at our office that you can use until yours come back.
Get Help With Your Hearing Aids Right Away
If the hearing aids are starting to fade, the audio quality is starting to falter, it’s important to get it repaired.
If you do this you will be more likely to prevent any downtime. Neglected hearing loss can influence your general health, including your mental health. 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, taking them in for service is the best way to do that.