Trouble hearing? Here’s how to know if your hearing aids require maintenance.
You take good care of your hearing aids. You’re very careful with your hearing aids. Cleaning them every day, you make certain they are snug on their charger when you go to bed.
But you can’t figure out why your hearing aids aren’t functioning efficiently and it’s really annoying. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to resolve the problem. Keep in mind: avoiding damage is your first job (or you may have to get new ones).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Make sure you consult your owner’s manual when performing upkeep and troubleshooting as every model of hearing aid can be somewhat different. Here are some things you can check on most models:
- Wax buildup: Perform a visual check of your hearing aid to ensure that there is no wax buildup preventing normal operation. Even if you undertake routine cleaning, occasionally wax can accumulate quickly, so it’s worth checking this off your list.
- Check your battery: Even if you know your hearing aids charged all night, you’ll want to double-check the battery power. Even rechargeable batteries have to be replaced eventually and sometimes you might not have them inserted fully.
- Look for noticeable damage: Cracks or loose components may occur around the shell of your hearing aids so don’t forget to inspect for that. Cracks could let moisture in and may be a sign of further damage.
- Keep your microphone clear: Check for anything blocking the microphone of your hearing aid. Your hearing aid will sound broken or silent or have feedback if the microphone is blocked.
Each of these concerns will have a unique solution so check your owner’s manual. Self maintenance will be a possibility in certain cases. (But, once again, consult the instructions.)
Does my Hearing Aid Need servicing – How do I Know?
Your hearing aid will probably need professional servicing if you keep having issues with it after carrying out these basic maintenance tasks. Because you rely on your hearing aids for all of your everyday conversations and social activities, this most likely doesn’t sound very appealing.
However, it’s worth pointing out that “repair” doesn’t always translate into “send your hearing aid out” for service and wait a few weeks. There are some circumstances where it can be fixed in shop while you wait.
So in those situations, you will be able to get your hearing aid back before the day’s end (this, of course, depends on the extent of the damage, that’s 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 possible. A backup pair could be necessary in those situations. An old pair may be able to do a decent job as a backup so bring them in with you if you have a pair. We might even have some we can loan you while you wait.
Get Help With Your Hearing Aids As Soon as Possible
It’s essential 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 avoid any downtime. Your general health and your mental health are affected by untreated hearing loss. More to the point, once your hearing aids are ignored in a box somewhere, it’s all too easy to pretend they don’t exist, all the while, your hearing progressively worsens.
The ideal way to keep your hearing healthy is to keep your hearing aids working. And the easiest way to do that is to clean them, keep them charged, and, when needed, take your hearing aids to get some professional help.
