Hearing aids have been shown to benefit your health in unsuspected ways including improving cognitive abilities, reducing depression, and limiting your chance of falling. Which is why it can be so irritating when these devices have malfunctions. The difference between an enjoyable dinner with family or a horrible time can be made by discovering a fast solution when your hearing aid begins screeching with feedback or quits entirely.
Fortunately, some of the most basic hearing aid issues can be reduced with a few practical troubleshooting steps. The faster you ascertain what’s wrong with your hearing aid, the sooner you can get back to what’s important.
Maybe The Batteries Need to be Changed
One of the most prevalent problems with hearing aids is a low battery. Some hearing aids come with rechargeable batteries. Replaceable batteries are standard on other hearing aids. If you’re going through any of these symptoms, it probably means the batteries are the reason for your hearing aid problems.
- Weak sounds: You feel like you are always straining to hear what’s going on around you.
- Dull sound quality: It feels like somebody is talking to you underwater or from across the room.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: There’s a good possibility that your battery is the problem 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, swap them out on a regular basis. In some situations, rechargeable batteries are sealed into the device, and if that’s the situation, you might need to take the hearing aid to a professional.
- Make certain you have completely charged batteries. Let your rechargeable batteries charge overnight or at least for several hours.
- Having the right batteries is essential so make sure you double check that. Your hearing aid can be damaged by the incorrect battery. (Occasionally, a battery will seem to be the same size as a different battery so it’s essential that you be cautious and check twice.)
Every Surface Needs to be Cleaned
Obviously, hearing aids log a lot of time inside your ears. And there’s a lot happening in there (your ears are like party rooms, only more hygienic). So it’s not surprising that your hearing aids can get a little dirty while helping you hear. In spite of the fact that hearing aids are designed to cope with some earwax, it’s a practical idea to get them cleaned now and again. Here are some of the issues that can come from too much buildup:
- Discomfort: If they feel as though they’re suddenly too big for your ears, it may be because earwax buildup has begun interfering with the fit. Sometimes, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be exchanged.
- Feedback: It’s possible that earwax buildup can interfere with the feedback canceling functions of your hearing aid, causing you to hear a whining sound.
- Muffled sound: If your hearing aid sounds like it’s lost behind something, maybe it is. There may be earwax or other accumulation getting in the way.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Bringing your hearing aid to a professional for routine upkeep is an essential procedure.
- The tip of your hearing aid can become coated and plugged up by earwax and debris so look for that. The manufacturer will typically provide a cleaning tool which can be employed along with the manufacturer’s cleaning instruction.
- Examine the earwax filter to ensure it’s clean; replace it if needed.
- Gently clean your hearing aids, as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Try Giving Yourself a Little Time
In some cases, the issue isn’t a problem with the hearing aid. When you first put in your hearing aids, your brain has to get accustomed to hearing the outside world again. Particular sounds (the buzzing of an air conditioner, for instance) might at first come across as unpleasantly loud. And certain consonants often sound louder than the rest of the speech.
As your brain works to catch up, over time, you’ll adapt.
However, it’s worthwhile not to let too much time go by, with any problem, before getting help. Your hearing aids should make your life more enjoyable, so if things aren’t working the way they ought to be, or your hearing aids are uncomfortable, contact us, we can help.