Trouble hearing? Here’s how to know if your hearing aids require maintenance.
You take care of your hearing aids. You’re extremely careful with your hearing aids. Cleaning them every day, you make certain they are snug on their charger when you go to sleep.
That’s why it’s so frustrating that, abruptly and distressingly, your hearing aids are no longer working the way they should. Luckily, troubleshooting the problem is fairly easy. Keep in mind: preventing damage is your number one task (or you may have to replace them).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Always consult with your owner’s manual when performing maintenance and troubleshooting as every model of hearing aid can be a bit different. Here are some things you can check on most models:
- Keep your microphone clear:Sometimes, the microphone can be obstructed. An obstructed microphone can cause feedback or can make your hearing aid sound broken or silent.
- Examine your battery: Even if you know your hearing aids charged all night, you’ll want to double-check the battery level. Even rechargeable batteries need to be replaced sooner or later and sometimes you may not have them inserted fully.
- Wax accumulation: Perform a visual examination of your hearing aid to make sure that there is no wax buildup interfering with ordinary functionality. Even if you do regular cleaning, sometimes wax can build up quickly, so it’s worth ticking this off your list.
- Check for visible damage: Cracks or loose components could appear around the shell of your hearing aids so don’t forget to check for that. Cracks could let moisture in and may be a sign of additional damage.
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you might tackle each of these issues. Self maintenance will be a possibility in certain cases. (Your owner’s manual is the best place to begin.)
When Does my Hearing Aid Need Servicing?
If your hearing aid continues to malfunction after you have done basic maintenance and troubleshooting, it’s likely that your hearing aid will require professional repair. Because you depend on your hearing aids for all of your everyday conversations and social activities, this probably doesn’t sound very appealing.
But it’s essential to recognize that repair doesn’t always imply sending your hearing aid out for repair. There are some circumstances where it can be fixed in shop while you wait.
So in those situations, you will be able to get your hearing aid back in the same day (this, of course, depends on the magnitude of the damage, which is all the more reason to bring it in for repair as soon as you can).
Not all cases can be fixed in house though. A backup pair may be required in those situations. An old pair might be able to do an adequate job as a backup so bring them in with you if you have a pair. There may even be a loaner set at our office that we can loan you until yours come back.
Get Help With Your Hearing Aids As Soon as Possible
If your hearing aids are starting to fade, the audio quality is starting to fail, it’s crucial to have it repaired.
If you do this you will be more likely to avoid any downtime. Your general health and your mental health are affected by untreated hearing loss. Moreover, once your hearing aids are left in a box somewhere, it’s all too easy to pretend they don’t exist, all the while, your hearing progressively worsens.
Your best chance of getting the maximum help from your hearing aids is to keep them functioning at their highest quality. Keeping them charged and clean and if necessary, taking them in for service is the best way to do that.
