Difficulty hearing? Here’s how you can know if your hearing aids require maintenance.
You take good care of your hearing aids. You’re extremely cautious with your hearing aids. You charge them nightly and clean them daily.
That’s why it’s so discouraging that, suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids are no longer working properly. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to resolve the problem. Just remember: your number one task is to avoid damaging your hearing aid further (or else replacing them could be required).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Every design of hearing aid is different so make use of your owner manual for troubleshooting and maintenance. Here are some things you can check on most models:
- 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 sooner or later and sometimes you might not have them inserted fully.
- Wax buildup: Check for wax buildup which could be stopping the standard functionality of your hearing aids. Even if you do routine cleaning, occasionally wax can build up rapidly, so it’s worth checking this off your list.
- Keep your microphone clear: Look for anything obstructing the microphone of your hearing aid. An obstructed microphone can create feedback or can cause your hearing aids to sound broken or silent.
- Check for noticeable damage: Check if there are any visible cracks or loose components around the shell of your hearing aid. Cracks, obviously, could indicate more extensive damage (or allow).
Each of these issues will have a unique strategy so consult your owner’s manual. In some cases, you may be capable of performing maintenance on your own. (Your owner’s manual is the best place to start.)
When Does my Hearing Aid Need Repair?
Your hearing aid will probably need professional servicing if you keep having issues with it after carrying out these basic maintenance duties. Because you rely on your hearing aids for all of your everyday conversations and social activities, this most likely doesn’t sound very appealing.
However, it’s worth mentioning that “repair” doesn’t always mean you need to “mail your hearing aids in” for service and wait a few weeks. There are some circumstances where it can be repaired in shop while you wait.
Meaning, in some instances, you’ll be capable of bringing your hearing aids in for professional help and get them back in a matter of minutes or hours (this is the reason why it’s a smart idea to bring your hearing aid to us so we can assess the damage).
Not all cases can be addressed in house though. And on those occasions, you may find yourself in need of a backup pair of hearing aids. So if you have an old pair lying around, ask us whether they will serve temporarily. We might even have a pair we can loan you while you are waiting.
Don’t Put Off Getting Help For Your Hearing Aids
If your hearing aids are starting to fade, the audio quality is beginning to falter, it’s important to have it repaired.
That’s because you hope to eliminate any downtime. Your general health and your mental health are affected 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 your hearing aids functioning. And the easiest way to do that is to keep them clean, charge them, and, when needed, take your hearing aids to get some professional help.