You go out of your way to make sure your hearing aids are well taken care of. Cleaning them every day, you make sure they’re safe and snug on their charger when you go to bed.
But you get pretty discouraged when your hearing aids suddenly stop working the way they used to. Thankfully, there are a few measures you can take to diagnose the issue. Not doing any additional damage is your number one priority so you won’t need to replace them.
Troubleshooting your hearing aid
Naturally, when you first got your nice 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.
Here are some things you can check on most models:
- Check your battery: You’ll still want to check the battery power even if you had your hearing aids charging at night. If your hearing aid has replaceable batteries, it may be a good idea to check if those batteries are correctly inserted or if a new one fixes the issue.
- Check for visible damage: Do you see any visible cracks or loose components around the shell of your hearing aid? Cracks, obviously, could suggest more significant damage (or allow in moisture).
- Keep your microphone clear: Check your hearing aid to see if anything is obstructing the microphone. A blocked microphone can cause feedback or can cause your hearing aids to sound broken or silent.
- Wax accumulation: Do a visual inspection of your hearing aid to ensure that there’s no wax buildup interfering with basic operation. Even if you undertake routine cleaning, sometimes wax can build up quickly, so it’s worth checking this off your list.
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you might address each of these concerns. In some cases, you may be able to perform maintenance yourself.
How will I know when my hearing aid requires repair?
If your hearing aid continues to malfunction after you have performed basic maintenance and troubleshooting, it’s likely that your hearing aid will have to be professionally repaired. You need your hearing aids for nearly every aspect of your life so this may not sound very appealing.
You won’t necessarily be without your hearing aid for lengthy periods of time just because it needs to be repaired. In some cases, we can do the repair in office and you can take it with you when you leave.
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 degree of the damage, all the more reason to get your devices in for repair as soon as possible).
There are still some cases where such fast repair isn’t possible. And in those situations, you may find yourself in need of a backup set of hearing aids. Maybe you have an old pair that will do temporarily in a pinch. Or maybe we have a loaner pair you can use.
Get assistance with your hearing aids without delay
If the sound quality is beginning to fail, it’s crucial to get your hearing aids assessed and repaired.
Any degree of downtime should be prevented. Your mental health and your overall health can be affected by neglected hearing loss. And it becomes all too easy to leave your hearing aids sitting in a drawer somewhere while your hearing continues to diminish.
Keeping those hearing aids in excellent 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.