If you have hearing aids but you’re still having problems hearing, your hearing aids may require professional maintenance.
You take good care of your hearing aids. You baby them. You charge them nightly and clean them daily.
That’s why it’s so discouraging that, suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids are no longer working properly. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to resolve the issue. Keep in mind: your number one task is to avoid damaging your hearing aid further (or else replacing them may be required).
Your Hearing Aid Might Need Troubleshooting
Always consult your owner’s manual when performing maintenance and troubleshooting because every model of hearing aid can be a bit different. On most models, these things can be checked:
- Wax accumulation: Do a visual check of your hearing aid to make sure that there is no wax buildup interfering with ordinary functionality. Even if you do regular cleaning, occasionally wax can accumulate quickly, so it’s worth ticking this off your list.
- Check for visible damage: Check if there are any noticeable loose components or cracks around the shell of your hearing aid. Cracks could let moisture in and might be an indicator of additional damage.
- Examine your battery: Even if you’re sure your hearing aids spent the night on the charger, you’ll want to double-check the battery level. If your hearing aid has changeable batteries, it might be a good idea to check if those batteries are inserted correctly or if a new one fixes the issue.
- Keep your microphone clear: Look for anything obstructing the microphone of your hearing aid. An obstructed microphone can create feedback or can make your hearing aid sound broken or silent.
Each of these problems will have its own solution so check your owner’s manual. Self maintenance will be a possibility in certain cases. (Your owner’s manual is the best place to begin.)
When Does my Hearing Aid Require Repair?
If your hearing aid continues to malfunction after you have performed basic maintenance and troubleshooting, it’s likely that your hearing aid will require professional repair. Because you depend on your hearing aids for all of your basic conversations and social activities, this most likely doesn’t sound very appealing.
However, it’s worth pointing out that “repair” doesn’t always mean you need to “mail your hearing aids in” for service and wait a few weeks. In some cases, we can repair it while you wait.
Meaning, in some instances, you’ll be able to bring your hearing aids in for professional maintenance and get them back in a matter of minutes or hours (this is the reason why it’s a good idea to bring your hearing aid to us so we can assess the damage).
There are still some cases where same day repair isn’t feasible. A backup pair may be necessary in those cases. So if you have an old pair collecting dust, ask us whether they will serve on a temporary basis. There may even be a loaner set at our office that we can loan you until you get yours back.
Don’t Wait to Get Help With Your Hearing Aids
It’s necessary to get your hearing aids repaired as soon as you notice any falter or fading of the sound quality.
That’s because you really want to avoid any downtime. Neglected hearing loss can impact your overall health, and that includes your mental health. More to the point, once your hearing aids are ignored in a box somewhere, it’s way too easy to pretend they don’t exist, all the while, your hearing progressively worsens.
The best way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep your hearing aids working. And the best way to do that is to clean them, charge them, and, when necessary, take your hearing aids to get some professional help.