Difficulty hearing? Here’s how you can know if your hearing aids need maintenance.
You take good care of your hearing aids. You baby them. Cleaning them every day, you make sure they are snug on their charger when you go to bed.
That’s why it’s so irritating that, abruptly and distressingly, your hearing aids aren’t working properly. The good news is, troubleshooting the issue is fairly easy. Keep in mind: preventing damage is your first job (otherwise replacing them may be required).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Make sure you consult with your owner’s manual when performing upkeep and troubleshooting because every model of hearing aid can be a bit different. On most models, these things can be checked:
- Check your battery: Even if you know your hearing aids spent the night on the charger, you’ll want to double-check the battery level. If your hearing aid has changeable batteries, it might not be a bad idea to check if those batteries are in properly or if a new one fixes the issue.
- Check for noticeable damage: Check if there are any noticeable loose components or cracks around the shell of your hearing aid. Cracks could let moisture in and may be a sign of further damage.
- Keep your microphone clear:On occasion, the microphone can be blocked. Your hearing aid will sound silent or broken or have feedback if the microphone is blocked.
- Wax buildup: Do a visual examination of your hearing aid to ensure that there is no wax accumulation preventing normal functionality. Wax builds up quickly so even if you have a routine cleaning schedule you still need to check for this.
Each of these issues will have its own solution so check your owner’s manual. Self maintenance will be a possibility in some cases. (Your owner’s manual is the best place to begin.)
Does my Hearing Aid Need Repair – How do I Know?
Your hearing aid will most likely require professional repair if you continue to have issues with it after carrying out these basic maintenance tasks. Because you depend on your hearing aids for all of your everyday conversations and social activities, this most likely doesn’t sound very appealing.
But it’s beneficial to understand that repair doesn’t always imply sending your hearing aid out for repair. There are some circumstances where it can be repaired 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 extent of the damage, which is all the more reason to bring your devices in for repair as soon as possible).
There are still some circumstances where same day repair isn’t feasible. And on those occasions, you could find yourself in need of a backup pair of hearing aids. So if you have an old pair lying around, ask us whether they will work on a temporary basis. We might even have some we can loan you while you are waiting.
Don’t Wait to Get Help For Your Hearing Aids
If your hearing aids are beginning to fade, the audio quality is starting to falter, it’s crucial to get it repaired.
If you do this you will be more likely to prevent any downtime. Your general health and your mental health are impacted by untreated hearing loss. Moreover, once your hearing aids are left in a box somewhere, it’s way too easy to pretend they don’t exist, all the while, your hearing progressively worsens.
The best way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep those hearing aids functioning. And the best way to do that is to keep them clean, keep them charged, and, when necessary, take your hearing aids to get some professional help.