Hearing aids have been demonstrated to support your health in unexpected ways including increasing cognitive abilities, reducing depression, and limiting your chance of falling. Which is why when your hearing aids seem like they fail to function properly, it’s so frustrating. The difference between a pleasant dinner with family or a horrible time can be made by finding a quick solution when your hearing aid starts screeching with feedback or goes silent entirely.
Luckily, there are some basic troubleshooting steps you can take that could ease or manage some common hearing aid issues. The sooner you figure out 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 prevalent issues with hearing aids. Some hearing aids have rechargeable batteries. Replaceable batteries are standard on other models. Here are some of the symptoms that could lead you to believe the batteries are the bad guy when your device goes on the fritz:
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: If your hearing aid won’t turn on, or won’t stay on, there’s a good possibility the battery is the main issue.
- Dull sound quality: It feels as if somebody is talking to you underwater or from the other side of the room.
- Weak sounds: You feel like you are always straining to hear what’s happening around you.
Some solutions:
- Make certain you have completely charged batteries. Let your rechargeable batteries charge overnight or at least for several hours.
- Having the right batteries is essential so make certain you double check that. Putting the wrong type of battery into your hearing aid can result in malfunctions. (Sometimes, the wrong type of battery can be purchased in the correct size, so double-checking is crucial.)
- If you have replaceable batteries, swap them out regularly. In some cases, rechargeable batteries are sealed inside of the device, and if that’s the situation, you may need to take the hearing aid to a professional.
Every Surface Should be Cleaned
Obviously, hearing aids log a lot of time inside your ears. And there’s a lot taking place in there (your ears are like party rooms, only more hygienic). So while helping you hear, it’s not surprising that your hearing aid can get somewhat dirty. Most hearing aid models are manufactured to cope with some earwax accumulation, but it’s a practical idea to have a routine cleaning schedule also. Here are some of the issues that can come from too much buildup:
- Discomfort: If they feel as though they’re suddenly too big for your ears, it could be because earwax accumulation has started interfering with the fit. Occasionally, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be replaced.
- Feedback: The feedback canceling function on your hearing aid can be disrupted by earwax buildup causing a whistling noise.
- 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 checking it and, when needed, replacing it.
- Double-check the tip of the hearing aid to ensure it’s not covered or plugged by earwax or debris. The manufacturer will often supply a cleaning tool which can be employed along with the manufacturer’s cleaning instruction.
- Bringing your hearing aid to a specialist for regular upkeep is an important procedure.
- Clean your hearing aid lightly in the way that the manufacturer has recommended.
Try Giving Yourself Some Time
Sometimes, the issue isn’t a problem with the hearing aid. When you first put in your hearing aids, your brain needs to get used to hearing the outside world again. As your mind adjust, you may notice that some sounds are unpleasantly loud (the hum of the refrigerator, for instance). And some consonants frequently sound louder than the rest of the speech.
As your brain works to catch up, before long, you’ll adapt.
But it’s worthwhile to get help with any problems before too much time passes. If your hearing aids are uncomfortable or you’re experiencing constant 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 make sure you’re enjoying, not enduring, your hearing aids.
