Difficulty hearing? Here’s how to know if your hearing aids require maintenance.
You take care of your hearing aids. You baby them. Cleaning them daily, you make certain they are snug on their charger when you go to bed.
That’s why it’s so frustrating that, suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids aren’t working properly. The good news is, troubleshooting the issue is fairly easy. Just remember: preventing damage is your number one job (otherwise replacing them could be necessary).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Make sure you consult with your owner’s manual when doing maintenance 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 blocked. An obstructed microphone can create feedback or can cause your hearing aids to sound silent or broken.
- Look for noticeable damage: Loose components or cracks may develop around the shell of your hearing aids so remember to check for that. Cracks could let moisture in and may be an indicator of additional damage.
- Check your battery: Always double check your battery power even if you are sure your hearing aid charged all night. If your hearing aid has replaceable batteries, it might not be a bad idea to check if those batteries are inserted correctly or if a new one solves the problem.
- Wax accumulation: Check for wax buildup which could be stopping the normal functionality of your hearing aids. Wax builds up quickly so even if you have a routine cleaning schedule you still need to check for this.
Again, check your owner’s manual on how you might tackle each of these problems. Self maintenance will be a possibility in certain cases. (But, again, consult the instructions.)
Does my Hearing Aid Need Repair – How Can I Tell?
If your hearing aid keeps malfunctioning after you have done basic maintenance and troubleshooting, it’s probable that your hearing aid will need to be professionally repaired. That may not always seem appealing, let’s be honest, you rely on your hearing aid for daily communication (along with dinners with your family, staying current with your favorite Netflix shows, etc).
But it’s important to recognize that repair doesn’t always imply sending your hearing aid away. Sometimes, we can fix it while you wait.
Meaning, in some cases, you’ll be able to bring your hearing aids in for professional maintenance and get them back within a few minutes or hours (this, of course, depends on the scope 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 fixed in house though. A backup pair may be required in those situations. So if you have an old pair collecting dust, ask us whether they will work on a temporary basis. There might even be a loaner set at our office that you can use until yours come back.
Get Help With Your Hearing Aids Right Away
It’s essential to have your hearing aids repaired as soon as you notice any falter or fading of the sound quality.
If you do this you will be more likely to prevent any downtime. Neglected hearing loss can influence your general health, and that includes your mental health. An even more serious concern is that your hearing will get worse as your hearing aids sit ignored in a drawer.
The best way to get the maximum help from your hearing aids is to keep them functioning at their highest quality. Keeping them clean and charged and if necessary, taking them in for service is the best way to do that.