You take good care of your hearing aids. When you go to sleep, you always put them snuggly on the charger and you clean them every day.
But you get pretty distressed when your hearing aids suddenly stop working the way they used to. There are a few things you can do to diagnose the problem, luckily. Just remember: your number one job is to avoid damaging your hearing aid further (or you may need to replace them).
Troubleshooting your hearing aid
You kept the owner’s manual that came with your beautiful new hearing aids, right? You’ll want to get it out so you can utilize it for troubleshooting and, possibly, maintenance. Following your owner’s manual is crucial because every model of hearing aid is different.
On most models there are some other things you can check, here are a few:
- Look for visible damage: Do you observe any visible cracks or loose components around the shell of your hearing aid? Cracks, clearly, could suggest more extensive damage (or let in moisture).
- Wax accumulation: Do a visual inspection of your hearing aid to make sure that there’s no wax buildup interfering with standard operation. Wax can accumulate quickly even if you clean your hearing aids frequently so make sure you double check.
- Keep your microphone clear: Check your hearing aid to see if anything is obstructing the microphone. Your hearing aid might feedback or merely fail to work if the microphone is obstructed.
- 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. If your hearing aid has replaceable batteries, it may not be a bad plan to check if those batteries are inserted properly or if a new one fixes the problem.
Again, check with your owner’s manual on how you might address each of these issues. Self-maintenance is sometimes possible.
When does my hearing aid need repair?
Your hearing aid will most likely need to be repaired professionally if you do routine upkeep and it still malfunctions. You need your hearing aids for almost every facet of your life so this may not sound very appealing.
It’s certainly worth taking note that “repair” doesn’t necessarily translate into “send your hearing aids in for service and wait a few weeks”. In some instances, we can fix your hearing aid in office while you wait.
Or, depending on the level of the damage, you could have your hearing aids back in a few hours.
There are still some instances where such quick repair isn’t possible. A backup pair of hearing aids might be needed in these cases. So if you have an old pair lying around, ask whether they will serve on a temporary basis. Or maybe we have a loaner pair you can use.
Get assistance with your hearing aids without delay
It’s crucial to get your hearing aid assessed and repaired if you start to notice the sound quality is starting to fail.
You’ll want to avoid any downtime. Neglected hearing loss can impact your overall health, including your mental health. And it becomes all too easy to leave your hearing aids laying in a drawer somewhere while your hearing continues to deteriorate.
Keeping those hearing aids in good working order is the secret to keeping your hearing healthy. Keeping them charged, clean, and when needed, professionally repaired is the best way to do that.