Hearing aids are essential devices for millions of people with hearing loss. They provide ample hearing support, allowing people to navigate everyday environments with greater ease and safety. Similar to most electronic devices, you can experience issues that you may need to troubleshoot overtime which is completely normal. The following are common hearing aid problems and ways you can fix them.
- Hearing aids are not turning on or making any sound.
- Thoroughly inspect your hearing aid, paying particular attention to the microphone which is the component that absorbs sound. Take a soft and dry cloth to wipe any substances (earwax, moisture), completely cleaning the microphone.
- Check that your hearing aid is on and the battery door is shut. If the battery compartment is not closing, the battery could be upside down. Reinsert fresh batteries which also assures you that the battery is not the problem.
- Turn up the volume directly on the device or by adjusting settings via your smartphone app. Also, switch between programs.
- Hearing aids are delivering distorted or muffled sound.
- This issue may point to the batteries. If your hearing aids are operated with disposable batteries, inspect the batteries and the compartment (paying attention to the metal prongs).
- If you observe any corrosion or anything else, thoroughly clean.
- Replace batteries with a fresh pair and be sure they are inserted properly.
- Check your hearing aid settings to make sure your hearing aid is programmed in a way that is best suited for your hearing needs.
- Hearing aids are producing feedback noise.
- Feedback noise can sound like whistling noises which is unpleasant to deal with. First, remove your hearing aids entirely and reinsert them to make sure they are in place properly.
- Turn down the volume on your device. If this stops the feedback, this could indicate an issue with sound leaking through the vent or around the earmold.
- Remove any earwax that has accumulated in your ear canal. This can present sound from traveling through your ear, causing people to increase the volume on their device which contributes to feedback noise.
- The volume on hearing aids is not loud enough.
- If it seems like the volume is too low and you can’t hear well as a result, start by looking at your hearing aid’s earmold and tubing. Check for any substances that need to be removed or see if there is any damage to these components (cracks, holes).
- Switch to different hearing aid settings to see if this adjusts the volume.
If you’ve tried these troubleshooting strategies and the issues you are experiencing with your hearing aids persist, take your device to be professionally inspected and repaired.
Seeking Professional Repair Services
It is important to know when you should take your hearing aids to be professionally serviced. Hearing aids are highly durable devices that last up to 7 years. These devices are worn daily so they can be impacted by daily wear and tear. You may not be able to self-manage issues you experience with your device and it is common to need repairs over time. Signs that indicate professional repair is needed include:
- You’ve tried troubleshooting and the issues persist.
- Feedback back noise occurs consistently, impacting your ability to hear clearly and comfortably.
- You observe physical damage to your hearing aids – cracks, holes, battery compartment door doesn’t close etc.
- Batteries seem to not power your hearing aid for a long period of time. You find yourself constantly replacing batteries with a fresh pair.
These signs suggest that your hearing aid is experiencing an issue that an expert needs to inspect and fix. For more serious repair work, your hearing aid may need to be sent to the manufacturer. In this case, your hearing healthcare provider may provide you with a temporary hearing aid.
Hearing aids are an important investment in your health and wellness. It is important to practice the strategies to effectively maintain them, keeping them in the best shape. This includes taking your device to be professionally cleaned and inspected which contributes to their longevity and optimal performance. Contact us today to learn more about troubleshooting common hearing aid issues and strategies to best maintain your device.