Lowering your chance of depression, decreasing your risk of falling, and enhancing cognitive ability are some of the surprising health benefits that have been shown to come from wearing hearing aids. Which is why it can be so irritating when these devices have malfunctions. When you begin noticing screeching feedback, or when your hearing aids suddenly go silent, expedient solutions can be the difference between a wonderful family dinner or a difficult one.
Luckily, there are some practical troubleshooting steps you can take which could ease or address some typical hearing aid problems. Finding out what’s wrong with your hearing aid as quickly as you will can you back to what’s important all the sooner.
Maybe The Batteries Need to be Swapped Out
A low battery is one of the most prevalent issues with hearing aids. Some hearing aids have rechargeable batteries. Other devices are designed to have their batteries swapped out. If you’re going through any of these symptoms, it probably means the batteries are the reason for your hearing aid issues.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: If your hearing aid doesn’t turn on, or won’t stay on, there’s a good possibility the battery is the main problem.
- Dull sound quality: Voices sound dull like they are far away or underwater.
- Weak sounds: You’re struggling to hear what’s taking place around you and that seems to be occurring more frequently.
Some solutions:
- Ensure the batteries are completely charged. If your hearing aid comes with rechargeable batteries, let them charge for several hours or overnight.
- Having the right batteries is crucial so make sure you double check that. Putting the wrong type of battery in your hearing aid can cause malfunctions. (Sometimes, a battery will appear to be the same size as a different battery so it’s crucial that you be cautious and check twice.)
- If you have replaceable batteries, replace them regularly. You may need to take your hearing aid in to a specialist if the battery is sealed inside.
Try Cleaning Every Surface
Obviously, hearing aids log a lot of time inside your ears. And there’s a lot happening in there (your ears are like party rooms, only more hygienic). So while helping you hear, it’s no surprise that your hearing aid can get a bit dirty. Most hearing aid models are designed to handle a certain amount of earwax accumulation, but it’s a good idea to have a routine cleaning plan too. A few problems linked to buildup and dirt could include:
- Discomfort: If they feel as if they’re suddenly too big for your ears, it could be because earwax buildup has begun interfering with the fit. Occasionally, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be replaced.
- Feedback: The feedback canceling feature on your hearing aid can be interrupted by earwax buildup generating a whistling noise.
- Muffled sound: If your hearing aid sounds like it’s hiding behind something, it might just be. There might be earwax or other accumulation getting in the way.
Some solutions:
- Double-check the tip of the hearing aid to make certain it is not covered or plugged by earwax or debris. The manufacturer will typically supply a cleaning tool which can be used along with the manufacturer’s cleaning instruction.
- Gently clean your hearing aids, as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Check the earwax filter to ensure it’s clean; replace it if needed.
- Taking your hearing aid to a professional for regular upkeep is an important procedure.
Try Giving Yourself Some Time
The hearing aid itself isn’t always the issue. When your brain isn’t used to hearing the outside world, it can take a little bit of time to get used to your new hearing aids. Particular sounds (the buzzing of an air conditioner, for instance) may at first come across as unpleasantly loud. You might also notice that certain consonant sounds may seem overly pronounced.
As your brain works to catch up, before long, you’ll adjust.
However, it’s important not to let too much time pass, with any problem, before getting help. If your hearing aids are uncomfortable or you’re experiencing continuous noise issues or things don’t seem to be working just the way they ought to be, we can help get you back on track and make sure you’re enjoying, not enduring, your hearing aids.