If you have hearing aids but you’re still having trouble hearing, your hearing aids may require professional maintenance.
You take care of your hearing aids. You baby them. Cleaning them on a daily basis, you make sure they are snug on their charger when you go to bed.
But you can’t understand why your hearing aids aren’t functioning efficiently and it’s very annoying. Luckily, troubleshooting the problem is pretty simple. Just remember: your number one task is to avoid damaging your hearing aid further (or else replacing them may be necessary).
Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid
Every design of hearing aid is different so use your owner manual for troubleshooting and maintenance. On most models, these things can be checked:
- Keep your microphone clear:Sometimes, the microphone can be obstructed. Your hearing aid might sound broken or silent or have feedback if the microphone is blocked.
- Check your battery: Always double check your battery level even if you are certain your hearing aid sat on the charger all night. If your hearing aid has changeable batteries, it may not be a bad idea to check if those batteries are inserted properly or if a new one fixes the issue.
- Wax accumulation: Perform a visual inspection of your hearing aid to ensure that there is no wax buildup preventing ordinary operation. Even if you undertake routine cleaning, sometimes wax can accumulate quickly, so it’s worth checking this off your list.
- Look for visible damage: Check to see if there are any noticeable loose components or cracks around the shell of your hearing aid. Cracks, obviously, could reveal more extensive damage (or allow).
Again, check your owner’s manual on how you should tackle each of these issues. In certain cases, you might be capable of performing maintenance on your own. (But, once again, read the instructions.)
Does my Hearing Aid require Repair – How do I Know?
If your hearing aid keeps malfunctioning after you have performed basic maintenance and troubleshooting, it’s probable that your hearing aid will require professional repair. Because you rely on your hearing aids for all of your everyday conversations and social activities, this probably doesn’t sound very attractive.
But it’s essential to recognize that repair doesn’t always mean sending your hearing aid away. There are some situations where it can be repaired in shop while you wait.
So in those cases, you will be able to get your hearing aid back in the same day (this, of course, depends on the magnitude of the damage, that’s all the more reason to bring it in for repair as soon as possible).
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 have an old pair lying around, ask us whether they will serve temporarily. There may even be a loaner set at our office that you can use until you get yours back.
Get Assistance With Your Hearing Aids Sooner Rather Than Later
If your hearing aids are starting to fade, the audio quality is beginning to falter, it’s crucial to get it repaired.
That’s because you really want to eliminate any downtime. Neglected hearing loss can affect your total health, including your mental health. An even more significant concern is that your hearing will diminish as your hearing aids sit forgotten in a drawer.
The best way to get the maximum help from your hearing aids is to keep them functioning at their highest quality. Keeping them charged and clean and if necessary, taking them in for maintenance is the best way to do that.