Trouble hearing? Here’s how to know if your hearing aids need repair.
You take good care of your hearing aids. You’re really careful with your hearing aids. You charge them nightly and clean them every day.
That’s why it’s so irritating that, suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids are no longer working properly. Luckily, troubleshooting the problem is pretty straight forward. Just remember: preventing damage is your number one task (otherwise replacing them may be required).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Make sure you consult with your owner’s manual when performing upkeep and troubleshooting as every model of hearing aid can be somewhat different. On most models, these things can be checked:
- Keep your microphone clear:Sometimes, the microphone can be obstructed. Your hearing aid will sound silent or broken or have feedback if the microphone is obstructed.
- Look for noticeable damage: Loose components or cracks may occur around the shell of your hearing aids so don’t forget to check for that. Cracks, obviously, could indicate more extensive damage (or allow).
- Examine your battery: Always double check your battery power even if you’re sure your hearing aid sat on the charger all night. Even rechargeable batteries need to be replaced sooner or later and sometimes you may not have them inserted fully.
- Wax accumulation: Perform a visual inspection of your hearing aid to ensure that there is no wax accumulation interfering with normal functionality. Even if you perform routine cleaning, occasionally wax can build up rapidly, so it’s worth checking this off your list.
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you might approach each of these problems. Self maintenance will be possible in some cases. (Your owner’s manual is the best place to start.)
When Does my Hearing Aid Require Repair?
Your hearing aid will most likely require professional servicing if you continue to have problems with it after carrying out these basic maintenance duties. That might not always sound appealing, after all, you rely on your hearing aid for everyday communication (along with dinners with your family, staying current with your favorite Netflix shows, and so on).
But it’s beneficial to recognize that repair doesn’t always mean sending your hearing aid away. In some cases, we can fix it while you wait.
That means, in some cases, you’ll be capable of bringing your hearing aids in for professional help and have them back in a matter of minutes or hours (this, of course, depends on the magnitude of the damage, that’s all the more reason to bring it in for repair as soon as possible).
Not all scenarios can be fixed in house though. A backup pair may be necessary in those cases. So if you have an old pair lying around, ask us whether they will work temporarily. We might even have some we can loan you while you are waiting.
Don’t Put Off Getting Help For Your Hearing Aids
It’s crucial to get your hearing aids serviced as soon as you experience any falter or fading of the sound quality.
If you do this you will be more likely to avoid any downtime. Your general health and your mental health are impacted by untreated hearing loss. An even more serious concern is that your hearing will diminish as your hearing aids sit ignored in a drawer.
The ideal way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep those hearing aids functioning. Keeping them charged and clean and if necessary, taking them in for service is the best way to do that.