If you use hearing aids but you’re still having difficulty hearing, your hearing aids might require professional repair.
You take care of your hearing aids. You baby them. You charge them nightly and clean them daily.
That’s why it’s so annoying that, abruptly and distressingly, your hearing aids aren’t working the way they should. The good news is, troubleshooting the issue is pretty straight forward. Keep in mind: your number one job is to avoid damaging your hearing aid further (or you might have to replace them).
Your Hearing Aid Might Need Troubleshooting
Every model of hearing aid is different so make use of your owner manual for troubleshooting and maintenance. Here are some things you can check on most models:
- Check your battery: Even if you know your hearing aids charged all night, you’ll want to double-check the battery level. Even rechargeable batteries have to be replaced eventually and sometimes you may not have them fully inserted.
- Wax accumulation: Perform a visual check of your hearing aid to make sure that there is no wax buildup preventing normal operation. Wax accumulates rapidly so even if you have a routine cleaning schedule you still need to pay attention to this.
- Check for noticeable damage: Check if there are any visible cracks or loose components around the shell of your hearing aid. Cracks could allow moisture in and may be a sign of additional damage.
- Keep your microphone clear:Sometimes, the microphone can be blocked. Your hearing aid can sound broken or silent or have feedback if the microphone is blocked.
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you should approach each of these issues. Self maintenance will be possible in certain cases. (But, once again, read the instructions.)
Does my Hearing Aid require servicing – How do I Know?
If your hearing aid keeps malfunctioning after you have carried out basic maintenance and troubleshooting, it’s probable that your hearing aid will require professional repair. That may not always sound appealing, after all, you rely on your hearing aid for daily communication (not to mention dinners with your family, staying current with your favorite Netflix shows, and so on).
However, it’s worth mentioning that “repair” doesn’t always translate into “mail your hearing aids in” for service and wait a few weeks. In some cases, we can fix it while you wait.
So in those situations, you will be able to get your hearing aid back in the same day (this is the reason why it’s a good idea to bring your hearing aid in so we can determine the damage).
There are still some cases where same day repair is not feasible. A backup pair may be necessary in those situations. An old pair might be able to do an adequate job as a backup so bring them in with you if you have a pair. There may even be a loaner pair at our office that you can use until you get yours back.
Get Help With Your Hearing Aids Sooner Rather Than Later
It’s crucial to get your hearing aids repaired as soon as you notice any falter or fading of the sound quality.
If you do this you will be more likely to prevent any downtime. Your overall health and your mental health are affected by neglected hearing loss. An even more significant worry is that your hearing will get worse as your hearing aids sit ignored in a drawer.
The ideal way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep those hearing aids functioning. And the best way to do that is to keep them clean, charge them, and, when needed, take your hearing aids to get some professional help.