Hearing aids have been proven to benefit your health in unexpected ways including boosting cognitive abilities, minimizing depression, and decreasing your risk of falls. Which is why it can be so irritating when these devices have malfunctions. The difference between a pleasant dinner with family or a terrible time can be made by finding a quick solution when your hearing aid begins screeching with feedback or quits entirely.
The good news is, there are some basic troubleshooting steps you can take that could alleviate or address some common hearing aid issues. figuring out what’s wrong with your hearing aid as quickly as you will get you back to what’s important all the sooner.
Try Changing The Batteries
A low battery is one of the most prevalent issues with hearing aids. Rechargeable batteries come standard with many hearing aid models. Changeable batteries are standard on other hearing aids. If you’re going through any of these symptoms, it most likely means the batteries are to blame for your hearing aid problems.
- 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 issue.
- Dull sound quality: It seems as if somebody is talking to you underwater or from across the room.
- Weak sounds: You feel like you are always struggling to hear what’s happening around you.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Make sure you have completely charged batteries. Let your rechargeable batteries charge overnight or at least for several hours.
- Double-check to make sure the right batteries are installed. Your hearing aid can be damaged by the incorrect battery. (Sometimes, the wrong kind of battery can be purchased in the correct size, so double-checking is important.)
- Exchange the batteries if your hearing aid is designed to allow that. In some cases, rechargeable batteries are sealed inside of the device, and if that’s the situation, you may need to bring the hearing aid to a specialist.
Every Surface Should be Cleaned
Needless to say, hearing aids log a lot of time inside your ears. And your ears have a lot taking place inside of them. 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 some earwax accumulation, but it’s a good idea to have a routine cleaning plan too. Here are a few of the issues that can come from too much buildup:
- Muffled sound: If your hearing aid sounds like it’s lost behind something, it might just be. There could be earwax or other accumulation getting in the way.
- Feedback: The feedback canceling function on your hearing aid can be disrupted by earwax buildup creating a whistling sound.
- Discomfort: If they feel like they’re suddenly too big for your ears, it may be because earwax accumulation has begun interfering with the fit. Occasionally, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be replaced.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Taking your hearing aid to a specialist for routine upkeep is an essential procedure.
- Take care of the filter by checking it and, if needed, replacing it.
- Clean your hearing aid gently in the way that the manufacturer has directed.
- Double-check the tip of the hearing aid to make sure it’s not covered or blocked by earwax or debris. Clean with your cleaning tool or as advised by the manufacturer’s instructions.
Try Giving Yourself a Little Time
The hearing aid itself isn’t necessarily the problem. When your brain isn’t used to hearing the outside world, it can take a little time to get used to your new hearing aids. As your mind adjust, you may notice that specific sounds are unpleasantly loud (the hum of the refrigerator, for instance). And certain consonants frequently sound louder than the rest of the speech.
As your brain works to catch up, before long, you’ll adapt.
Even so, it’s important not to let too much time go by, with any problem, before getting help. If your hearing aids are uncomfortable or you’re experiencing constant noise issues or things don’t seem to be working exactly the way they ought to be, we can help get you back on track and ensure you’re enjoying, not enduring, your hearing aids.