Hearing aids have been demonstrated to benefit your health in unexpected ways including enhancing cognitive abilities, reducing depression, and limiting your chance of falling. Which is why it can be so frustrating when these devices have malfunctions. When you start observing screeching feedback, or when your hearing aids abruptly stop working, quick solutions can make the difference between a lovely family dinner or a difficult one.
Luckily, there are some basic troubleshooting steps you can take which could relieve or manage some typical hearing aid issues. The faster you figure out what’s wrong with your hearing aid, the sooner you can get back to what’s important.
Maybe The Batteries Need to be Swapped Out
A low battery is one of the most prevalent challenges with hearing aids. Rechargeable batteries come standard with many hearing aid models. Other devices are made to have their batteries swapped out. Here are a few of the symptoms that might lead you to believe the batteries are the bad guy when your device goes on the fritz:
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: There’s a good possibility that your battery is to blame if your hearing aid keeps turning itself off or won’t turn on at all.
- Dull sound quality: It feels like someone is talking to you underwater or from the other side of the room.
- Weak sounds: You’re struggling to hear what’s happening around you and that seems to be occurring more and more.
Some solutions:
- If you have replaceable batteries, replace them on a regular basis. You may have to take your hearing aid in to a specialist if the battery is sealed inside.
- Make sure you have completely charged batteries. Let your rechargeable batteries charge overnight or at least for several hours.
- Check twice to make certain the right batteries are used. Your hearing aid can be damaged by the incorrect battery. (Sometimes, a battery will appear to be the same size as a different battery so it’s crucial that you be careful and check twice.)
Every Surface Should be Cleaned
Needless to say, hearing aids log a lot of time inside of your ears. And your ears have a lot taking place inside of them. So while helping you hear, it’s no surprise that your hearing aid can get somewhat dirty. Most hearing aid models are manufactured to cope with a certain amount of earwax accumulation, but it’s a practical idea to have a routine cleaning schedule too. Here are a few of the problems that can come from too much buildup:
- Discomfort: Earwax can buildup to the point where your hearing aid fits a little tight. Sometimes, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be replaced.
- Feedback: The feedback canceling feature on your hearing aid can be interrupted by earwax buildup creating a whistling sound.
- Muffled sound: If your hearing aid sounds like it’s lost behind something, it might just be. There may be earwax or other accumulation getting in the way.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Make sure you are bringing your hearing aids to a specialist for regular cleaning and maintenance.
- Lightly clean your hearing aids, as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Double-check the tip of the hearing aid to ensure it’s not covered or clogged by debris or earwax. Clean with your cleaning tool or as advised by the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Maintain the filter by checking it and, when needed, replacing it.
You May Just Need Some Time
The hearing aid itself isn’t necessarily the issue. When you first pop in your hearing aids, your brain needs to get accustomed to hearing the world again. As your mind adjust, you may notice that some sounds are unpleasantly loud (the hum of the refrigerator, for example). And certain consonants frequently sound louder than the rest of the speech.
These are all indications that your brain is racing to catch up to sound again and, in time, you’ll adjust.
But it’s important to get help with any issues before too much time goes by. If your hearing aids are not comfortable or you’re getting continuous noise issues or things don’t seem to be working exactly the way they ought to be, we can help get you back on track and ensure you’re enjoying, not enduring, your hearing aids.