Difficulty hearing? Here’s how you can know if your hearing aids need repair.
You take care of your hearing aids. You’re very cautious with your hearing aids. You charge them each night and clean them daily.
But you can’t figure out why your hearing aids aren’t functioning effectively and it’s really frustrating. Luckily, troubleshooting the issue is fairly easy. Just remember: preventing damage is your first job (otherwise replacing them may be required).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Every design of hearing aid is different so use your owner manual for troubleshooting and maintenance. Here are some things you can check on most models:
- Look for visible damage: Check if there are any noticeable cracks or loose components around the shell of your hearing aid. Cracks, obviously, could reveal more significant damage (or allow).
- Examine your battery: Always check your battery level even if you are certain your hearing aid sat on the charger all night. Even rechargeable batteries have to be replaced sooner or later and sometimes you might not have them fully inserted.
- Keep your microphone clear:Sometimes, the microphone can be obstructed. Your hearing aid will sound silent or broken or have feedback if the microphone is obstructed.
- Wax accumulation: Check for wax accumulation which could be impeding the normal operation of your hearing aids. Even if you undertake routine cleaning, sometimes wax can build up rapidly, so it’s worth ticking this off your list.
Again, consult your owner’s manual on how you should approach each of these issues. Self maintenance will be a possibility in certain cases. (But, again, consult the instructions.)
When Does my Hearing Aid Need Repair?
Your hearing aid will most likely require professional repair if you continue to have problems with it after carrying out these basic maintenance duties. That might not always seem appealing, after all, you depend on your hearing aid for daily communication (not to mention dinners with your family, staying current with your favorite Netflix series, and so on).
But it’s beneficial to understand that repair doesn’t always mean sending your hearing aid away. Sometimes, we can fix it while you wait.
So in those situations, you will be able to get your hearing aid back before the day’s end (this is the reason why it’s a good idea to bring your hearing aid in so we can ascertain the damage).
Not all cases can be fixed in house though. And on those occasions, you may find yourself in need of a backup pair of hearing aids. So if you’ve got an old pair collecting dust, ask us whether they will work temporarily. We might even have a pair we can loan you while you wait.
Get Assistance With Your Hearing Aids Right Away
It’s crucial to get your hearing aids repaired as soon as you experience any falter or fading of the audio quality.
That’s because you really want to eliminate any downtime. Untreated hearing loss can affect your overall health, including your mental health. An even more serious concern is that your hearing will diminish as your hearing aids sit ignored in a drawer.
The ideal way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep your hearing aids functioning. Keeping them charged and clean and if necessary, taking them in for service is the easiest way to do that.