You go above and beyond to ensure your hearing aids are well cared for. Cleaning them daily, you make sure they are safe and snug on their charger when you go to bed.
But you get pretty discouraged when your hearing aids abruptly stop working the way they did once. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to diagnose the problem. Just remember: your number one job is to avoid damaging your hearing aid additionally (or you might have to replace them).
Hearing aid troubleshooting
Of course, when you first got your sweet new hearing aids, you made a point of storing the owner’s manual in a safe spot. Hopefully, you did so that you can consult with your owner’s manual to undertake maintenance and troubleshooting. Following your owner’s manual is important because every model of hearing aid is different.
On most models there are some other things you can check, here are a few:
- Check your battery: You’ll still want to check the battery power even if you had your hearing aids on the charger overnight. It might be a good idea to check if you may need new batteries or if the old ones are correctly inserted, especially if your batteries are replaceable.
- Wax buildup: Be certain that there is no wax on your hearing aid by giving it a visual check. Wax can accumulate quickly even if you clean your hearing aids regularly so make sure you double check.
- Check for visible damage: Do you notice any visible cracks or loose components around the shell of your hearing aid? If you discover cracks, it could indicate that moisture is getting in and there might be more significant damage.
- Keep your microphone clear: Check your hearing aid to see if anything is obstructing the microphone. Your hearing aid may feedback or simply fail to work if the microphone is obstructed.
Once again you can learn how to address each of these issues by consulting your owner’s manual. In some cases, you may be able to perform maintenance yourself.
How will I know when my hearing aid needs repair?
Your hearing aid will probably need to be professionally repaired if you do routine upkeep and it still malfunctions. You need your hearing aids for almost every aspect of your life so this may not sound really appealing.
You won’t automatically be without your hearing aid for lengthy periods of time just because it needs to be repaired. In some cases, we can repair your hearing aid in office while you wait.
Or, you’ll be able to bring your hearing aids in for professional assistance and get them back in a matter of a few hours (this, obviously, depends on the extent of the damage, all the more reason to get your devices in for repair as soon as you can).
But rapid repair won’t be possible in all cases. A backup pair of hearing aids might be needed in these situations. So if you’ve got an old pair lying around, ask whether they will serve on a temporary basis. Or maybe we have a loaner pair you can borrow.
Don’t wait to get help with your hearing aids
It’s crucial to get your hearing aid assessed and repaired if you begin to notice the audio quality is beginning to falter.
Any amount of downtime should be avoided. Neglected hearing loss can impact your general health, and that includes your mental health. And it becomes all too easy to leave your hearing aids laying in a drawer somewhere while your hearing continues to decline.
Keeping those hearing aids in excellent working order is the secret to keeping your hearing healthy. Keeping them charged, clean, and when necessary, professionally repaired is the best way to do that.