The most common treatment for hearing loss are hearing aids, which amplify the sounds around you making it easier to communicate with the people throughout your life and be more aware of your surroundings. In fact, most people, once they get used to them, can’t even imagine living without them.
However, like anything, things can go wrong sometimes and suddenly your very important tool which helps you communicate with greater ease and feel more confident going out into the world can malfunction, interrupting plans and becoming downright stressful. The good news is that we have some tips for fixing common issues with hearing aids. Here are just a few:
No Sound
Hearing aids amplify the sounds you struggle with, based on your latest hearing exam so when no sound comes out of them it’s clearly a big issue. The good news is that the fix may be fairly simple. As is best practice when diagnosing any issue, it’s important to start with the basics and rule out every possibility until you discover what the issue may be.
- Check the Power Switch- This may seem basic, but it happens more often than you might suspect. Make sure that it’s turned on.
- Check the Battery- The battery of your hearing aids is the power source. If there is corrosion on the battery terminals it can interrupt functioning. Other times it may be as simple as a battery that needs to be recharged or changed out for a new one.
- Check the Volume- Another basic but very common mistake is to find that the volume is turned down to zero—it happens to everyone every now and then!
- Check the Cleanliness- to get the longest life out of your hearing aids it’s important to take good care of them. Add regular cleaning of your hearing aids to your nightly routine. Our hearing aids go everywhere with us so it’s not surprising how dirty they can get. Earwax traps dirt and debris which can build up in the tiny crevices of your hearing aids speaker or amplifiers. In addition, tubing can get old and break, so it’s important to be well acquainted with your hearing aids. That way, if something does go wrong then you can identify it immediately and have plans for it to be repaired so you can get back to hearing clearly with hearing aids.
Uncomfortable Sounds
Todays’ hearing aids offer sound quality which would knock the socks off your grandparents. If your hearing aids are making feedback or hissing it could signal many different causes.
- Inspect the Battery for Corrosion- When corrosion builds up around your battery it can interrupt power supply creating unstable and unreliable sound quality. Clean the battery terminals with a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice if you discover any corrosion on your terminals.
- Inspect the Controls- If dirt builds up in controls, it can cause your hearing aid settings to become jammed, creating uncomfortable sounds. Clean away debris with a soft dry rag and use a hearing aid pick to remove any buildup of earwax from cracks.
Uncomfortable Fit
The fit of the hearing aid is equally as important as the hearing aid program which prioritizes the sounds you need to hear while allowing the others to be heard with your existing hearing. A fit that creates too many gaps will create more instances for feedback and buzzing..
- Slipping Around– An improperly fitted device can cause everything from pain to feedback and even battery corrosion. If you feel as if your device is not staying in place, a different model may better suit your needs. We are here to make it work. Bear with us and we will find the best fit and style for you.
- Headaches and Stuffiness- when you start wearing hearing aids they take a while to get used to and mild headaches are common symptoms. With hearing aids your brain will be able to hear more sounds than it may have heard in years, which can be exhausting. Your brain suddenly has a lot of new information to process so be patient and be sure to take plenty of breaks at first, though eventually you should build up to wearing them every day from the time you wake till the time you rest again. Start slow and take your time on your hearing journey!
If you are having a problem with your hearing aids, we are here to help. Contact us today to find out more!