Difficulty hearing? Here’s how you can know if your hearing aids require maintenance.
You take care of your hearing aids. You baby them. Cleaning them on a daily basis, you make sure they are snug on their charger when you go to bed.
But you can’t understand why your hearing aids aren’t working effectively and it’s very annoying. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to resolve the issue. Keep in mind: avoiding damage is your number one job (or you may need to get new ones).
Your Hearing Aid Might Need Troubleshooting
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:
- Keep your microphone clear:Sometimes, the microphone can be obstructed. Your hearing aid might sound silent or broken or have feedback if the microphone is obstructed.
- Wax buildup: Do a visual examination of your hearing aid to make sure that there is no wax buildup interfering with standard operation. Wax accumulates rapidly so even if you have a regular cleaning schedule you still need to check for this.
- Check your battery: Always check your battery power even if you’re certain your hearing aid sat on the charger all night. If your hearing aid has replaceable batteries, it might be a good idea to check if those batteries are in correctly or if a new one fixes the issue.
- Check for visible damage: Loose components or cracks could occur around the shell of your hearing aids so remember to check for that. Cracks could allow moisture in and may be a sign of additional damage.
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you should tackle each of these problems. Self maintenance will be possible in some cases. (But, again, consult the instructions.)
Does my Hearing Aid require servicing – How Can I Tell?
If your hearing aid keeps malfunctioning after you have carried out basic maintenance and troubleshooting, it’s likely that your hearing aid will need to be professionally repaired. That might not always sound appealing, after all, you depend on your hearing aid for everyday communication (not to mention dinners with your family, keeping up to date with your favorite Netflix shows, etc).
However, it’s worth mentioning that “repair” doesn’t always mean you need to “send your hearing aid out” for service and wait a few weeks. There are some scenarios where it can be fixed in shop while you wait.
So in those situations, you will be able to get your hearing aid back before the day’s end (this is why it’s a good idea to bring your hearing aid in so we can ascertain the damage).
There are still some cases where such rapid repair isn’t possible. A backup pair may be required in those situations. An old pair might be able to do an adequate job as a backup so if you have an old pair, bring them in with you. There may even be a loaner pair at our office that you can use until yours come back.
Don’t Put Off Getting Help For Your Hearing Aids
It’s necessary to have your hearing aids serviced as soon as you notice any falter or fading of the sound quality.
That’s because you hope to eliminate any downtime. Neglected hearing loss can influence your general health, and that includes 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 working at their highest quality. Keeping them clean and charged and if necessary, bringing them in for service is the best way to do that.