Hearing aids have been proven to improve your health in unsuspected ways including boosting cognitive abilities, minimizing depression, and limiting your chance of falling. Which is why when your hearing aids seem like they malfunction, it’s so infuriating. When you start noticing screeching feedback, or when your hearing aids suddenly stop working, quick solutions can make the difference between a wonderful family dinner or a miserable one.
The good news is, there are some basic troubleshooting measures you can take which could alleviate or address some common hearing aid problems. Finding out what’s happening with your hearing aid as quickly as you will can you back to what’s important all the sooner.
Maybe The Batteries Need to be Swapped Out
One of the most prevalent problems with hearing aids is a low battery. Rechargeable batteries come standard with many hearing aid models. Changeable batteries are standard on other models. If you’re going through any of these symptoms, it probably means the batteries are the reason for your hearing aid problems.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: If your hearing aid doesn’t turn on, or won’t stay on, there’s a good possibility the battery is the principal issue.
- Dull sound quality: It feels as if someone is talking to you underwater or from the other side of the room.
- Weak sounds: You feel like you are constantly straining to hear what’s going on around you.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Having the right batteries is essential so make sure you double check that. Putting the wrong kind of battery in your hearing aid can result in malfunctions. (Sometimes, the wrong type of battery can be purchased in the right size, so double-checking is essential.)
- Replace the batteries if your hearing aid is manufactured to allow that. In some cases, rechargeable batteries are sealed inside of the device, and if that’s the situation, you might have to bring the hearing aid to a specialist.
- Make sure the batteries are 100 % charged. Let your rechargeable batteries charge overnight or at least for several hours.
Try Cleaning Every Surface
Hearing aids, obviously, spend a lot of time in your ears. And your ears have a lot going on inside of them. So it’s not surprising that your hearing aids can get somewhat dirty in the process of helping you hear. In spite of the fact that hearing aids are designed to cope with some earwax, it’s a good idea to have them cleaned once in a while. A few issues connected to buildup and dirt could include:
- Discomfort: Earwax can buildup to the point where the fit of your hearing aid becomes a little tight. Occasionally, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be exchanged.
- Muffled sound: If your hearing aid sounds like it’s hiding behind something, it might just be. There could be earwax or other buildup getting in the way.
- Feedback: It’s possible that earwax buildup can obstruct the feedback canceling features of your hearing aid, causing you to hear a whistling noise.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Take care of the filter by checking it and, when needed, replacing it.
- Ensure you are sending your hearing aids to a professional for regular maintenance and cleaning.
- Clean your hearing aid carefully in the way that the manufacturer has advised.
- The tip of your hearing aid can become covered and clogged up by earwax and debris so look for that. The manufacturer will normally provide a cleaning tool which can be employed along with the manufacturer’s cleaning instruction.
You May Simply Need Some Time
In some cases, the issue isn’t a problem with the hearing aid. When you first put in your hearing aids, your brain has to get accustomed to hearing the world again. Particular sounds (the buzzing of an air conditioner, for instance) might at first seem unpleasantly loud. And some consonants often sound louder than the rest of the speech.
As your brain works to catch up, before long, you’ll adapt.
Even so, it’s important not to let too much time pass, with any problem, before getting help. Your hearing aids should make your life more enjoyable, so if things aren’t working the way they ought to be, or your hearing aids are uncomfortable, give us a call, we can help.