You go out of your way to be certain your hearing aids are well cared for. Cleaning them every day, you make sure they’re safe and snug on their charger when you go to bed.
Suddenly and discouragingly, your hearing aids aren’t working the way they once did. There are several things you can do to diagnose the problem, thankfully. Not doing any further damage is your top priority so you won’t need to replace them.
Troubleshooting your hearing aid
You saved the owner’s manual that came with your beautiful new hearing aids, right? Hopefully, you did so that you can consult with your owner’s manual to undertake maintenance and troubleshooting. Each model of hearing aid can be rather different so it’s essential to follow the manual’s guidelines.
On most models there are some other things you can check, here are a few:
- Keep your microphone clear: Check for anything blocking the microphone of your hearing aid. Your hearing aid might feedback or simply fail to work if the microphone is blocked.
- Check your battery: You’ll still want to assess the battery power even if you had your hearing aids charging overnight. If your hearing aid has replaceable batteries, it might not be a bad idea to check if those batteries are inserted properly or if a new one fixes the problem.
- Wax accumulation: Be certain that there is no wax on your hearing aid by giving it a visual check. Wax can build up quickly even if you clean your hearing aids regularly so make sure you double check.
- Check for noticeable damage: Do you observe any visible cracks or loose components around the shell of your hearing aid? Cracks, obviously, could suggest more significant damage (or allow in moisture).
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you might approach each of these concerns. Self-maintenance is sometimes possible.
How will I know when my hearing aid needs repair?
If your hearing aid continues to malfunction after you’ve performed basic upkeep and troubleshooting, it’s likely that your hearing aid will need to be professionally repaired. You need your hearing aids for nearly every facet of your life so this might not sound really appealing.
You won’t automatically be without your hearing aid for extended periods of time just because it needs to be serviced. In some cases, we can fix it in office and you can take it with you when you leave.
Or, depending on the extent of the damage, you could have your hearing aids back in a few hours.
There are still some instances where such fast repair isn’t possible. And in those cases, you may find yourself in need of a backup pair of hearing aids. So if you’ve got an old pair lying around, ask whether they will serve on a temporary basis. Or maybe we have a loaner pair you can use.
Don’t wait to get help with your hearing aids
If the sound quality is beginning to falter, it’s essential to get your hearing aids assessed and repaired.
Any degree of downtime needs to be avoided. Your mental health and your overall health can be impacted 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 grows worse and worse.
The optimum way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep those hearing aids working. And the ideal way to do that is to clean them, keep them charged, and, when necessary, take your hearing aids to get some professional repair.