Lowering your chance of depression, minimizing the danger of falling, and increasing cognitive ability are some of the surprising health advantages that have been proven to come from wearing hearing aids. Which is why it can be so frustrating when these devices have malfunctions. The difference between an enjoyable dinner with family or a terrible time can be made by finding 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 which could ease or manage some typical hearing aid problems. The sooner you determine what’s going on with your hearing aid, the sooner you can get back to what’s important.
Maybe The Batteries Need to be Changed
A low battery is one of the most common challenges with hearing aids. Rechargeable batteries come standard with many hearing aid models. Other devices are made to have their batteries changed. Here are some of the symptoms that might lead you to believe the batteries are the bad guy when your device goes on the fritz:
- Dull sound quality: Voices sound muffled like they are far away or underwater.
- 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: There’s a good chance that your battery is to blame if your hearing aid keeps shutting itself off or doesn’t turn on at all.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Having the correct batteries is essential so make sure you double check that. Your hearing aid can be damaged by the wrong battery. (Occasionally, a battery will appear to be the same size as a different battery so it’s crucial that you be cautious and check twice.)
- If you have replaceable batteries, swap them out regularly. You may have to take your hearing aid in to a specialist if the battery is sealed inside.
- Make sure you have completely charged batteries. If your hearing aid has rechargeable batteries, charge them for a few hours or overnight.
Every Surface Needs to be Cleaned
Needless to say, hearing aids log a lot of time inside of your ears. And your ears have a lot going on inside of them. So while helping you hear, it’s not surprising that your hearing aid can get a bit dirty. Most hearing aid models are manufactured to handle some earwax buildup, but it’s a practical idea to have a regular cleaning plan too. A few problems linked to buildup and dirt may include:
- Discomfort: If they feel as though they’re suddenly too big for your ears, it might be because earwax accumulation has started interfering with the fit. Occasionally, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be replaced.
- Muffled sound: Earwax and other buildup can make your hearing aid sound like it’s buried underneath something.
- Feedback: It’s possible that earwax buildup can obstruct the feedback canceling features of your hearing aid, causing you to hear a whistling noise.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Taking your hearing aid to a professional for regular upkeep is an important procedure.
- Take care of the filter by checking it and, when needed, replacing it.
- Double-check the tip of the hearing aid to make sure it is not covered or blocked by debris or earwax. The manufacturer will often supply a cleaning tool which can be employed along with the manufacturer’s cleaning instruction.
- Clean your hearing aid carefully in the way that the manufacturer has advised.
Try Giving Yourself a Little Time
In some cases, the issue isn’t a problem with the hearing aid. When your brain isn’t used to hearing the outside world, it can take some time to adjust to your new hearing aids. Specific sounds (the buzzing of an air conditioner, for instance) may initially seem unpleasantly loud. You might also detect that particular consonant sounds may seem overly pronounced.
These are all clues that your brain is racing to catch up to auditory stimuli again and, before long, you’ll adjust.
However, it’s important not to let too much time pass, with any problem, before seeking help. If your hearing aids are uncomfortable or you’re experiencing constant noise problems or things don’t seem to be working just the way they ought to be, we can help get you back on track and make sure you’re enjoying, not enduring, your hearing aids.