Trouble hearing? Here’s how you can know if your hearing aids require repair.
You take care of your hearing aids. You’re really careful with your hearing aids. You charge them every night and clean them daily.
But you can’t figure out why your hearing aids aren’t functioning effectively and it’s really frustrating. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem. Keep in mind: avoiding damage is your number one job (or you may have to replace them).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Every design of hearing aid is different so make use of your owner manual for troubleshooting and maintenance. Here are a few things you can check on most models:
- Check your battery: Even if you’re sure your hearing aids spent the night on the charger, you’ll want to double-check the battery level. If your hearing aid has changeable batteries, it might be a good idea to check if those batteries are in properly or if a new one fixes the issue.
- Wax buildup: Do a visual check of your hearing aid to ensure that there is no wax accumulation interfering with normal operation. Even if you do routine cleaning, occasionally wax can build up rapidly, so it’s worth checking this off your list.
- Keep your microphone clear: Look for anything obstructing the microphone of your hearing aid. Your hearing aid can sound broken or silent or have feedback if the microphone is blocked.
- Look for noticeable damage: Check if there are any noticeable loose components or cracks around the shell of your hearing aid. Cracks, clearly, could indicate more significant damage (or allow).
Each of these issues will have its own solution so consult your owner’s manual. Self maintenance will be possible in some cases. (But, again, read the instructions.)
Does my Hearing Aid require Repair – How do I Know?
Your hearing aid will probably require professional servicing if you keep having problems with it after performing these basic maintenance tasks. That may not always sound appealing, after all, you depend on your hearing aid for daily communication (not to mention dinners with your family, staying current with your favorite Netflix series, etc).
But it’s beneficial to recognize that repair doesn’t always imply sending your hearing aid away. There are some scenarios where it can be repaired in shop while you wait.
That means, in some cases, you’ll be capable of bringing your hearing aids in for professional help and get them back in a matter of minutes or hours (this, of course, depends on the extent of the damage, which is all the more reason to bring your devices in for repair as soon as possible).
Not all scenarios can be fixed in house though. And on those occasions, you may find yourself in need of a backup pair of hearing aids. An old pair might be able to do a decent job as a backup so bring them in with you if you have a pair. We might even have a pair we can loan you while you are waiting.
Don’t Wait to Get Help For Your Hearing Aids
If the hearing aids are beginning to fade, the audio quality is beginning to fail, it’s essential to have it repaired.
If you do this you will be more likely to prevent any downtime. Untreated hearing loss can influence your total health, including your mental health. An even more significant concern is that your hearing will diminish as your hearing aids sit forgotten in a drawer.
The best way to get the maximum help from your hearing aids is to keep them functioning at their highest quality. And the best way to do that is to clean them, charge them, and, when needed, take your hearing aids to get some professional assistance.