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’re very cautious with your hearing aids. Cleaning them on a daily basis, you make sure they are snug on their charger when you go to bed.
But you can’t figure out why your hearing aids aren’t working efficiently and it’s very frustrating. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue. Just remember: your number one job is to avoid damaging your hearing aid further (otherwise replacing them could be required).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Make sure you consult with your owner’s manual when performing maintenance and troubleshooting as every model of hearing aid can be somewhat different. Here are a few things you can check on most models:
- Keep your microphone clear: Check 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.
- Check for visible damage: Loose components or cracks could occur around the shell of your hearing aids so don’t forget to inspect for that. Cracks could let moisture in and might be a sign of further damage.
- Wax buildup: Do a visual inspection of your hearing aid to ensure that there is no wax accumulation interfering with normal functionality. Wax builds up rapidly so even if you have a regular cleaning schedule you still need to check for this.
- Check 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 in correctly or if a new one fixes the issue.
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you should tackle each of these issues. Self maintenance will be possible in certain cases. (But, once again, read the instructions.)
When Does my Hearing Aid Require Servicing?
Your hearing aid will probably need professional repair if you continue to have problems with it after carrying out these basic maintenance tasks. Because you depend on your hearing aids for all of your everyday conversations and social activities, this probably doesn’t sound very appealing.
But it’s beneficial to understand that repair doesn’t always imply sending your hearing aid out for repair. Sometimes, we can fix it while you wait.
Meaning, in some cases, you’ll be capable of bringing your hearing aids in for professional maintenance and have them back in a matter of minutes or hours (this, of course, depends on the magnitude of the damage, which is all the more reason to bring your devices in for repair as soon as possible).
Not all cases can be addressed in house though. And in those cases, you might find yourself needing a backup pair of hearing aids. So if you’ve got an old pair collecting dust, ask us whether they will serve temporarily. We might even have a pair we can let you use while you wait.
Don’t Wait to Get Help With Your Hearing Aids
It’s essential to have your hearing aids serviced 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 affect your general health, including your mental health. Moreover, once your hearing aids are left in a box somewhere, it’s very easy to pretend they don’t exist, even as, your hearing progressively worsens.
The ideal way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep your hearing aids working. And the easiest way to do that is to clean them, keep them charged, and, when needed, take your hearing aids to get some professional help.