Hearing aids have been proven to support your health in surprising ways including improving cognitive function, reducing depression, and decreasing your chance of falling. Which is why it can be so aggravating when these devices have malfunctions. The difference between an enjoyable dinner with family or a horrible time can be made by discovering a fast solution when your hearing aid starts screeching with feedback or goes silent altogether.
Fortunately, some of the most basic hearing aid problems can be alleviated with a few practical troubleshooting measures. figuring out what’s happening with your hearing aid as quickly as you will can you back to what’s important all the sooner.
Maybe The Batteries Need to be Swapped Out
One of the most common issues with hearing aids is a low battery. Many hearing aids come with rechargeable batteries. Changeable batteries are standard on other hearing aids. If you’re going through any of these symptoms, it probably means the batteries are the reason for your hearing aid issues.
- Dull sound quality: Voices sound muffled like they are distant or underwater.
- Weak sounds: You feel like you are constantly straining to hear what’s going on around you.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: There’s a good possibility that your battery is the issue if your hearing aid keeps turning itself off or won’t turn on at all.
Some solutions:
- Make sure you have completely charged batteries. Allow your rechargeable batteries to charge overnight or for at least a few hours.
- If you have replaceable batteries, replace them on a regular basis. You may need to bring your hearing aid in to a professional if the battery is sealed inside.
- Having the correct batteries is crucial so make sure you double check that. Putting the wrong type of battery in your hearing aid can result in malfunctions. (At times, the wrong kind of battery can be purchased in the right size, so double-checking is essential.)
Try to Clean 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 in the process of helping you hear, it’s no surprise that your hearing aid can get a bit dirty. In spite of the fact that hearing aids are made to cope with some earwax, it’s a practical idea to have them cleaned once in a while. A few problems connected to buildup and dirt could include:
- Feedback: The feedback canceling feature on your hearing aid can be disrupted by earwax buildup generating a whistling noise.
- Discomfort: Earwax can buildup to the point where your hearing aid fits a little tight. The plastic will occasionally need to be replaced if it starts to harden.
- Muffled sound: Earwax and other buildup can cause your hearing aid to sound like it’s buried beneath something.
Some solutions:
- Maintain the filter by examining it and, when needed, replacing it.
- The tip of your hearing aid can become coated and plugged up by earwax and debris so check for that. Clean with your cleaning tool or as advised by the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Ensure you are sending your hearing aids to a specialist for regular maintenance and cleaning.
- Clean your hearing aid carefully in the way that the manufacturer has advised.
You May Just Need Some Time
The hearing aid itself isn’t always the issue. When you first pop in your hearing aids, your brain has to get used to hearing the world again. As your mind adjust, you might notice that certain sounds are unpleasantly loud (the hum of the refrigerator, for instance). You may also notice that certain consonant sounds might seem overly pronounced.
As your brain works to catch up, over time, you’ll adjust.
But it’s important to get help with any issues before too much time passes. If your hearing aids are uncomfortable or you’re getting continuous noise issues or things don’t seem to be working exactly the way they ought to be, we can help get you back on track and ensure you’re enjoying, not enduring, your hearing aids.