If you use hearing aids but you’re still having trouble hearing, your hearing aids may require professional maintenance.
You take care of your hearing aids. You’re really careful with your hearing aids. You charge them each night and clean them daily.
That’s why it’s so annoying that, suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids are no longer working the way they should. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to resolve the problem. Just remember: preventing damage is your number one job (or you might need to get new ones).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Always consult with your owner’s manual when doing upkeep and troubleshooting because every model of hearing aid can be a bit different. On most models, these things can be checked:
- Wax buildup: Perform a visual inspection of your hearing aid to ensure that there is no wax buildup interfering with normal functionality. Even if you undertake regular cleaning, occasionally wax can accumulate rapidly, so it’s worth ticking this off your list.
- Keep your microphone clear: Look for anything obstructing the microphone of your hearing aid. Your hearing aid can sound silent or broken or have feedback if the microphone is obstructed.
- Check for noticeable damage: Cracks or loose components may occur around the shell of your hearing aids so don’t forget to inspect for that. Cracks could allow moisture in and may be a sign of additional damage.
- Examine your battery: Even if you’re sure your hearing aids charged all night, you’ll want to double-check the battery power. Even rechargeable batteries have to be replaced eventually and sometimes you may not have them fully inserted.
Again, check your owner’s manual on how you might tackle each of these problems. Self maintenance will be possible in some cases. (Your owner’s manual is the best place to begin.)
Does my Hearing Aid Need Repair – How do I Know?
Your hearing aid will probably require professional repair if you keep having issues with it after doing these basic maintenance tasks. That might not always sound appealing, after all, you depend on your hearing aid for everyday communication (along with dinners with your family, staying current with your favorite Netflix series, and so on).
But it’s beneficial to recognize that repair doesn’t always imply sending your hearing aid away. Sometimes, we can fix it while you wait.
So in those cases, you will be able to get your hearing aid back in the same day (this, of course, depends on the severity of the damage, which is all the more reason to bring it in for repair as soon as possible).
There are still some cases where same day repair isn’t feasible. And in those cases, you may find yourself needing a backup pair of hearing aids. An old pair may be able to do an adequate job as a backup so bring them in with you if you have a pair. We may even have some we can let you use while you are waiting.
Don’t Wait to Get Help With Your Hearing Aids
If your hearing aids are beginning to fade, the sound quality is beginning to falter, it’s crucial to have it repaired.
If you do this you will be more likely to avoid any downtime. Your overall health and your mental health are impacted by untreated hearing loss. Moreover, once your hearing aids are forgotten in a box somewhere, it’s way too easy to pretend they don’t exist, all the while, your hearing grows worse and worse.
The ideal way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep your hearing aids working. Keeping them charged and clean and if necessary, bringing them in for service is the best way to do that.