If you use hearing aids but you’re still having trouble hearing, your hearing aids might need professional repair.
You take care of your hearing aids. You’re extremely careful with your hearing aids. You charge them each night and clean them daily.
But you can’t understand why your hearing aids aren’t functioning effectively and it’s really frustrating. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to resolve the issue. Just remember: your number one job is to avoid damaging your hearing aid further (or you may have to get new ones).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Every model of hearing aid is different so use your owner manual for troubleshooting and maintenance. On most models, these things can be checked:
- Wax buildup: Do a visual examination of your hearing aid to ensure that there is no wax accumulation preventing ordinary functionality. Even if you perform routine cleaning, occasionally wax can accumulate quickly, so it’s worth ticking this off your list.
- Check for noticeable damage: Cracks or loose components may develop around the shell of your hearing aids so don’t forget to check for that. Cracks could let moisture in and might be a sign of further damage.
- Check your battery: Even if you know your hearing aids charged all night, you’ll want to double-check the battery power. Even rechargeable batteries need to be replaced eventually and sometimes you might not have them fully inserted.
- Keep your microphone clear:Sometimes, the microphone can be blocked. Your hearing aid will sound broken or silent or have feedback if the microphone is obstructed.
Each of these problems will have a unique strategy so consult your owner’s manual. Self maintenance will be a possibility in certain cases. (Your owner’s manual is the best place to start.)
Does my Hearing Aid require Repair – How do I Know?
Your hearing aid will probably require professional servicing if you keep having problems with it after performing these basic maintenance tasks. That might not always seem appealing, let’s be honest, you rely on your hearing aid for everyday communication (along with dinners with your family, keeping up to date with your favorite Netflix shows, and so on).
However, it’s worth mentioning that “repair” doesn’t always translate into “send your hearing aid out” for service and wait a number of weeks. In some cases, we can repair it while you wait.
Meaning, in some instances, you’ll be capable of bringing your hearing aids in for professional help and get them back within a few minutes or hours (this, of course, depends on the severity of the damage, that’s 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 might 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 may even be a loaner pair at our office that you can use until yours come back.
Don’t Wait to Get Help With Your Hearing Aids
It’s crucial to get your hearing aids repaired as soon as you detect any falter or fading of the audio quality.
That’s because you hope to eliminate any downtime. Your general health and your mental health are impacted by untreated hearing loss. Moreover, once your hearing aids are forgotten in a box somewhere, it’s all too easy to pretend they don’t exist, even as, your hearing progressively worsens.
The best way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep your hearing aids working. Keeping them charged and clean and if necessary, taking them in for maintenance is the easiest way to do that.