Lowering your chance of depression, minimizing your risk of falling, and increasing cognitive ability are some of the unexpected health benefits that have been proven to come from using hearing aids. Which is why it can be so frustrating when these devices fail to function properly. When you start detecting screeching feedback, or when your hearing aids suddenly stop working, quick solutions can be the difference between a wonderful family dinner or a miserable one.
Fortunately, some of the most fundamental hearing aid issues can be eased with a few basic troubleshooting steps. figuring out what’s wrong with your hearing aid as fast as possible will can you back to what’s important all the sooner.
Maybe The Batteries Need to be Changed
One of the most common issues with hearing aids is a low battery. Rechargeable batteries come standard with many hearing aid models. Changeable batteries are standard on other models. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it most likely means the batteries are to blame for your hearing aid problems.
- Dull sound quality: Voices sound dull like they are distant or underwater.
- Weak sounds: You feel like you are always struggling to hear what’s happening around you.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: There’s a good chance that your battery is to blame if your hearing aid keeps turning itself off or won’t turn on at all.
Here’s what you do about it:
- If you have replaceable batteries, replace them on a regular basis. You may have to take your hearing aid in to a professional if the battery is sealed inside.
- Double-check to make sure the correct batteries are installed. Your hearing aid can be damaged by the incorrect battery. (Sometimes, a battery will seem to be the same size as a different battery so it’s crucial that you be careful and check twice.)
- Make certain you have fully charged batteries. If your hearing aid is equipped with rechargeable batteries, charge them for a few hours or overnight.
Try Cleaning Every Surface
Hearing aids, obviously, spend a lot of time in your ears. And your ears have a lot going on inside of them. So while helping you hear, it’s no surprise that your hearing aid can get somewhat dirty. In spite of the fact that hearing aids are designed to deal with some earwax, it’s a practical idea to have them cleaned once in a while. A few problems connected to buildup and dirt might include:
- Feedback: The feedback canceling function on your hearing aid can be interrupted by earwax buildup creating a whistling sound.
- Discomfort: Earwax can accumulate to the point where your hearing aid fits a little tight. Sometimes, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be exchanged.
- Muffled sound: Earwax and other buildup can make your hearing aid sound like it’s buried underneath something.
Some solutions:
- Taking your hearing aid to a specialist for routine upkeep is an important procedure.
- Clean your hearing aid lightly in the way that the manufacturer has directed.
- 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 directed by the manufacturer’s instructions.
You May Just Need Some Time
The hearing aid itself isn’t necessarily the issue. When you first put in your hearing aids, your brain needs to get accustomed to hearing the outside world again. As your mind adapts, you may notice that some sounds are unpleasantly loud (the hum of the refrigerator, for example). You might also notice that certain consonant sounds might seem overly pronounced.
These are all indications that your brain is racing to catch up to sound again and, in time, you’ll adjust.
But it’s worthwhile to get help with any problems before too much time goes by. If your hearing aids are not comfortable or you’re experiencing continuous noise problems 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.