Difficulty hearing? Here’s how to know if your hearing aids require repair.
You take care of your hearing aids. You baby them. Cleaning them daily, you make sure they are snug on their charger when you go to sleep.
That’s why it’s so annoying that, suddenly and distressingly, your hearing aids aren’t working properly. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to resolve the issue. Keep in mind: your number one job is to avoid damaging your hearing aid further (or you may have to get new ones).
Your Hearing Aid Might Need Troubleshooting
Always consult your owner’s manual when doing maintenance and troubleshooting as every model of hearing aid can be somewhat different. Here are some things you can check on most models:
- Keep your microphone clear:On occasion, the microphone can be obstructed. An obstructed microphone can create feedback or can make your hearing aid sound broken or silent.
- Check for noticeable damage: Loose components or cracks may develop around the shell of your hearing aids so remember to inspect for that. Cracks could allow moisture in and may be a sign of additional damage.
- Check your battery: Always double check your battery level even if you’re certain your hearing aid charged all night. If your hearing aid has changeable batteries, it might not be a bad idea to check if those batteries are in correctly or if a new one fixes the issue.
- Wax accumulation: Do a visual check of your hearing aid to make sure that there is no wax buildup preventing ordinary operation. Wax builds up quickly so even if you have a regular cleaning schedule you still need to pay attention to this.
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you should tackle each of these issues. Self maintenance will be a possibility in some cases. (Your owner’s manual is the best place to start.)
Does my Hearing Aid Need servicing – How Can I Tell?
Your hearing aid will probably need professional repair if you continue to have problems with it after doing these basic maintenance duties. Because you depend on your hearing aids for all of your basic conversations and social activities, this most likely doesn’t sound very appealing.
However, it’s worth noting that “repair” doesn’t always mean you need to “send your hearing aid out” for service and wait a few weeks. In some cases, we can repair it while you wait.
So in those situations, you will be able to get your hearing aid back before the day’s end (this, of course, depends on the extent of the damage, which is all the more reason to bring it in for repair as soon as you can).
There are still some circumstances where such rapid repair is not feasible. And on those occasions, you might find yourself needing a backup pair of hearing aids. So if you have an old pair collecting dust, ask us whether they will serve on a temporary basis. We may even have some we can loan you while you are waiting.
Get Assistance With Your Hearing Aids Right Away
If the hearing aids are starting to fade, the audio quality is starting to falter, it’s essential to get 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 neglected hearing loss. Moreover, once your hearing aids are ignored in a box somewhere, it’s all too easy to pretend they don’t exist, all the while, your hearing progressively worsens.
The best way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep your hearing aids working. And the best way to do that is to clean them, charge them, and, when necessary, take your hearing aids to get some professional help.