You go above and beyond to make sure your hearing aids are well cared for. Cleaning them daily, you make sure they’re safe and comfortable on their charger when you go to bed.
Suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids are no longer working the way they once did. There are several things you can do to troubleshoot the problem, luckily. Not doing any additional damage is your number one priority so you won’t have to replace them.
Hearing aid troubleshooting
Naturally, when you first got your sweet new hearing aids, you made a point of putting the owner’s manual in a safe spot. You’ll want to take it out so you can utilize it for troubleshooting and, potentially, maintenance. Following your owner’s manual is important 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 assess the battery power even if you had your hearing aids on the charger at night. If your hearing aid has replaceable batteries, it may be a good plan to check if those batteries are correctly inserted or if a new one fixes the problem.
- Look for visible damage: Does your hearing aid have any noticeable loose components or cracks around its shell? Cracks, clearly, could suggest more extensive damage (or allow in moisture).
- Wax buildup: Make sure there is no wax on your hearing aid by giving it a visual inspection. Even if you carry out routine cleaning, sometimes wax can accumulate quickly, so it’s worth ticking this off your list.
- Keep your microphone clear: Check for anything obstructing the microphone of your hearing aid. A blocked microphone can cause feedback or can cause your hearing aids to sound broken or quiet.
Once again you can find out how to deal with each of these concerns by referring to your owner’s manual. In some cases, you may be able to perform maintenance yourself.
When does my hearing aid need repair?
Your hearing aid will most likely need to be professionally repaired if you do routine upkeep and it still malfunctions. That may not always sound desirable, after all, you depend on your hearing aid for daily communication (not to mention dinners with your family, staying up to date with your favorite Netflix series, and so on).
You won’t necessarily be without your hearing aid for extended periods of time just because it needs to be serviced. In some cases, we can repair your hearing aid in office while you wait.
Or, you’ll be able to take your hearing aids in for professional assistance and get them back in a matter of a few hours (this, obviously, depends on the degree of the damage, all the more reason to bring your devices in for repair as soon as you can).
There are still some instances where such rapid repair isn’t possible. A backup pair of hearing aids may be required in these situations. So if you’ve got an old pair lying around, ask whether they will serve on a temporary basis. Or it’s possible that we have a loaner pair you can use.
Get assistance with your hearing aids without delay
If the sound quality is starting to fail, it’s crucial to get your hearing aids checked and repaired.
You’ll want to prevent any downtime. Your mental health and your general health can be impacted 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.
The optimum way to keep your hearing working properly is to keep those hearing aids working. And the ideal way to do that is to clean them, keep them charged, and, when needed, take your hearing aids to get some professional repair.