Hearing aids have been proven to support your health in unexpected ways including improving cognitive abilities, minimizing depression, and limiting your chance of falling. Which is why it can be so irritating when these devices have malfunctions. The difference between an enjoyable dinner with family or a terrible time can be made by discovering a fast remedy when your hearing aid starts screeching with feedback or goes silent altogether.
Luckily, there are some basic troubleshooting steps you can take that could relieve or address some common hearing aid issues. figuring out what’s wrong with your hearing aid as quickly as possible will get you back to what’s important all the sooner.
Try Changing The Batteries
A low battery is one of the most common challenges with hearing aids. Rechargeable batteries come standard with some hearing aid models. Other devices are made to have their batteries changed. Here are some of the symptoms that could give you a clue that the batteries are the bad guy when your device starts to malfunction:
- Weak sounds: You’re struggling to hear what’s taking place around you and that seems to be occurring more frequently.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: If your hearing aid won’t turn on, or won’t stay on, there’s a good chance the battery is the main problem.
- Dull sound quality: Voices sound muffled like they are distant or underwater.
Some solutions:
- If you have replaceable batteries, swap them out regularly. You might have to bring your hearing aid in to a specialist if the battery is sealed inside.
- Verify that the batteries are 100 % charged. Let your rechargeable batteries charge overnight or at least for several hours.
- Double-check to make certain the right batteries are installed. Putting the wrong type of battery in your hearing aid can cause malfunctions. (Sometimes, the wrong kind of battery can be purchased in the right size, so double-checking is essential.)
Try Cleaning Every Surface
Hearing aids, obviously, spend a lot of time in your ears. And your ears have a lot taking place inside of them. So it’s not surprising that your hearing aids can get a little dirty in the process of helping you hear. Most hearing aid models are manufactured to cope with a certain amount of earwax buildup, but it’s a good idea to have a regular cleaning schedule also. A few issues related to buildup and dirt might include:
- Muffled sound: If your hearing aid sounds like it’s hiding behind something, it might just be. There might be earwax or other accumulation getting in the way.
- Feedback: The feedback canceling function on your hearing aid can be interrupted by earwax buildup causing a whistling sound.
- Discomfort: Earwax can accumulate to the point where the fit of your hearing aid becomes a little tight. Sometimes, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be replaced.
Some solutions:
- Double-check the tip of the hearing aid to ensure it is not covered or clogged by debris or earwax. Clean with your cleaning tool or as directed by the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Taking your hearing aid to a professional for routine upkeep is an important procedure.
- Maintain the filter by examining it and, if needed, replacing it.
- Carefully clean your hearing aids, as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Try Giving Yourself Some Time
In some cases, the issue isn’t an issue with the hearing aid. When you first put in your hearing aids, your brain has to get used to hearing the outside world again. As your mind adapts, you may notice that specific sounds are unpleasantly loud (the hum of the refrigerator, for instance). And certain consonants frequently sound louder than the rest of the speech.
As your brain works to catch up, before long, you’ll adapt.
Even so, it’s worthwhile not to let too much time pass, with any issue, before seeking help. Your hearing aids should make your life more enjoyable, so if things aren’t working the way they should be, or your hearing aids are uncomfortable, give us a call, we can help.
