Difficulty hearing? Here’s how you can know if your hearing aids require repair.
You take good care of your hearing aids. You’re very careful with your hearing aids. Cleaning them on a daily basis, you make sure they are snug on their charger when you go to sleep.
But you can’t figure out why your hearing aids aren’t functioning effectively and it’s very annoying. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to troubleshoot the issue. Keep in mind: your number one job is to avoid damaging your hearing aid further (or else replacing them might be necessary).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Every design of hearing aid is different so use your owner manual for troubleshooting and maintenance. Here are a few things you can check on most models:
- Check for visible damage: Loose components or cracks could develop around the shell of your hearing aids so remember to inspect for that. Cracks, obviously, could reveal more substantial damage (or allow).
- Wax buildup: Perform a visual examination of your hearing aid to make sure that there is no wax buildup preventing ordinary functionality. Wax builds up quickly so even if you have a routine cleaning schedule you still need to pay attention to this.
- Keep your microphone clear: Check for anything obstructing the microphone of your hearing aid. Your hearing aid might sound broken or silent or have feedback if the microphone is obstructed.
- Examine your battery: Always double check your battery level even if you are sure your hearing aid sat on the charger all night. Even rechargeable batteries need to be replaced eventually and sometimes you might not have them fully inserted.
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you might approach each of these issues. In some cases, you might be able to perform maintenance yourself. (Your owner’s manual is the best place to begin.)
Does my Hearing Aid require servicing – How Can I Tell?
Your hearing aid will most likely need professional repair if you continue to have issues with it after doing these basic maintenance tasks. That may not always seem 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 shows, etc).
But it’s beneficial to understand that repair doesn’t always mean 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 is why it’s a good idea to bring your hearing aid to us so we can assess the damage).
There are still some cases where such rapid repair isn’t feasible. And on those occasions, you may find yourself needing a backup pair of hearing aids. So if you’ve got an old pair lying around, ask us whether they will serve on a temporary basis. We might even have a pair we can loan you while you wait.
Get Assistance With Your Hearing Aids Right Away
If your hearing aids are beginning to fade, the audio quality is beginning to falter, it’s essential to get it repaired.
If you do this you will be more likely to eliminate any downtime. Neglected hearing loss can affect your overall health, including your mental health. An even more significant worry is that your hearing will diminish as your hearing aids sit forgotten in a drawer.
Your best chance of getting 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.
