Have you ever been watching your favorite Netflix movie when your internet suddenly cuts out? You sit and watch that spinning circle instead of finding out who won that cooking competition. All you can do is wait around for it to come back. Perhaps it’s your modem, might be your router, possibly it’s the internet company, or possibly it’ll just fix itself. It’s not a great feeling.
When technology malfunctions, it can be really aggravating. Your hearing aids certainly fall into this category. Most of the time, your hearing aids will provide you with the means to remain connected to loved ones, have discussions with co-workers, and keep up with your neighbors.
But your symptoms of hearing loss can suddenly become extremely frustrating when your hearing aids stop working. The technology you’re depending on has failed you. Why would your hearing aids just stop functioning? So how do you cope with that? Well, there are three common ways that hearing aids can fail, here’s how you can start to recognize and troubleshoot those problems.
Hearing aids can often have three common issues
Hearing aids are complex devices. Even still, there are some common problems that people with hearing aids may experience. Let’s take a look at possible causes of these problems and potential fixes.
Whistling and feedback
Perhaps you suddenly begin to hear an awful high-pitched whistling while you’re trying to have a conversation with a friend or relative. Or perhaps you hear some feedback. And so you think, “Why do I hear whistling in my hearing aids? This is odd”.
Here are three possible problems that could be causing this whistling and feedback:
- You may not have your hearing aids correctly positioned in your ears. Try taking them out and putting them back in. If the fit isn’t correct you may need to come see us so we can help you get a better fit.
- The tubing that connects the hearing aid with the earmold, on behind-the-ear models, can sometimes become compromised. Take a close look to identify whether the tube may have separated or might be compromised somehow.
- Earwax accumulation in your ear canal can undermine how your hearing aid functions. This is a rather common one. That includes causing your hearing aids to whistle or feedback. If possible, you can try clearing some earwax out of your ear or talk to us about the best way to do that (do not use a cotton swab).
Depending on the root cause of the feedback, we can help you resolve these issues if you can’t fix them on your own.
Hearing aids not generating sound
The main purpose of hearing aids is to produce sound. That’s their main function! Something has certainly gone wrong if you don’t hear any sound coming out of your hearing aid. So what could cause hearing aids to lose all sound? Here are several things to look for:
- Your settings: If you have them, cycle through your custom settings. Your hearing aids might think you’re in a very large space when you’re actually in a small room because the setting isn’t right. This incorrect setting could throw off the sound you’re hearing.
- Earwax buildup: Here we go again with the earwax! Inspect your device for indications of earwax on the microphone or speakers or any sensitive bits. You want to make sure the device is nice and clean.
- Batteries: If you have rechargeable batteries, be sure that they’re fully charged. And whether your batteries are rechargeable or not, it may be worth switching them out for new ones.
- Power: Look, we’ve all forgotten to turn the hearing aids on before. Make sure that isn’t the problem. Then you can cross that of the list of potential problems.
If these steps don’t address your problems, we might have the answers. We’ll be able to help you determine the next steps, and whether maintenance, repair, or replacement is required.
When you have your hearing aids in, you feel pain in your ears
Maybe your hearing aids are fine functionally but they hurt when you put them in. And you’re most likely wondering why your hearing aids would make your ears hurt. You’re not as likely to wear your hearing aids on a daily basis if they make your ears hurt. So, why do they hurt?
- Fit: The fit of the device is the most obvious issue. Naturally, when the fit is nice and snug, your hearing aids will work best. So when your hearing aids aren’t fitting very well, there can be some pain. Many hearing aids can be personalized to your particular ears. The better the fit, the fewer problems you’ll have with pain over the long run. We will be able to help you get the best possible fit from your devices.
- Time: Getting accustomed to your hearing aids will take a little while. How long it takes will depend on the individual. When you first get your new hearing aids, we can help you get a realistic concept of the adjustment period you can anticipate. If uncomfortable ears continue, talk to us about that as well!
Take your new hearing aid out for a test ride
One of the best ways to avoid possible problems with hearing aids is to take them out for a bit of a test run before you commit. Most of the time we will have loaner pairs for you to try out before you make a decision.
Selecting the correct hearing aids, adjusting them to fit your requirements, and helping with any extended problems you may have, are all things we will help with. We will be your resource for any help you need.
And that’s most likely more reliable than your internet company.