You go above and beyond to ensure your hearing aids are well cared for. When you go to sleep, you always put them snuggly on the charger and you clean them daily.
But you get pretty discouraged when your hearing aids suddenly stop working the way they used to. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to diagnose the problem. Just don’t forget: your main job is to avoid damaging your hearing aid additionally (or you may have to replace them).
Hearing aid troubleshooting
Of course, when you first got your sweet new hearing aids, you made a point of storing the owner’s manual in a safe spot. Hopefully, you did so that you can consult with your owner’s manual to undertake maintenance and troubleshooting. Using 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:
- Keep your microphone clear: Check your hearing aid to see if anything is obstructing the microphone. Your hearing aid may feedback or merely fail to work if the microphone is blocked.
- Look for visible damage: Does your hearing aid have any obvious loose components or cracks in its shell? Cracks, clearly, could indicate more extensive damage (or allow in moisture).
- 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 idea to check if those batteries are inserted properly or if a new one resolves the issue.
- Wax buildup: Make sure there’s no wax on your hearing aid by giving it a visual check. Even if you perform routine cleaning, sometimes wax can build up quickly, so it’s worth checking this off your list.
Once again you can learn how to deal with each of these concerns by consulting your owner’s manual. Self-maintenance is sometimes possible.
When does my hearing aid require repair?
Your hearing aid will most likely have to be repaired professionally if you do routine maintenance and it still malfunctions. You need your hearing aids for nearly every aspect of your life so this might not sound very appealing.
You won’t automatically be without your hearing aid for extended periods of time just because it needs to be repaired. In some cases, we can fix 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 a matter of a few hours (this, of course, depends on the extent of the damage, all the more reason to bring your devices in for repair as soon as you can).
But quick repair will not be possible in all cases. A backup set of hearing aids may be necessary in these cases. So if you have an old pair lying around, ask whether they will serve on a temporary basis. We may even be able to loan you a pair while you are waiting.
Get assistance with your hearing aids without delay
It’s crucial to have your hearing aid checked and repaired if you start to notice the sound quality is beginning to falter.
You’ll want to avoid any downtime. Your mental health and your overall health can be affected by neglected hearing loss. More to the point, once your hearing aids are forgotten in a box somewhere, it’s all too easy to pretend they don’t exist, all the while, your hearing gets worse and worse.
Keeping those hearing aids in good working order is the key to keeping your hearing healthy. 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.