Difficulty hearing? Here’s how you can know if your hearing aids need 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 sleep.
That’s why it’s so annoying that, abruptly and distressingly, your hearing aids aren’t working properly. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to resolve the issue. Just remember: your number one task is to avoid damaging your hearing aid further (or you may have to get new ones).
Your Hearing Aid Might Need Troubleshooting
Every design of hearing aid is different so use your owner manual for troubleshooting and maintenance. On most models, these things can be checked:
- Wax buildup: Inspect for wax accumulation which could be stopping the normal functionality of your hearing aids. Wax builds up rapidly so even if you have a regular cleaning schedule you still need to pay attention to this.
- Check for noticeable damage: Cracks or loose components could occur around the shell of your hearing aids so remember to check for that. Cracks could let moisture in and might be a sign of additional damage.
- Keep your microphone clear:On occasion, the microphone can be blocked. A blocked microphone can create feedback or can cause your hearing aids to sound broken or silent.
- Check your battery: Even if you’re sure your hearing aids charged all night, you’ll want to double-check the battery level. Even rechargeable batteries need to be replaced eventually and sometimes you may not have them inserted fully.
Each of these concerns will have its own strategy so check your owner’s manual. In certain cases, you might be able to perform maintenance on your own. (But, again, consult the instructions.)
Does my Hearing Aid Need Repair – How do I Know?
Your hearing aid will probably need professional repair if you keep having problems with it after doing these basic maintenance tasks. That might not always sound appealing, let’s be honest, you depend on your hearing aid for everyday communication (along with dinners with your family, keeping up to date with your favorite Netflix shows, etc).
But it’s important to recognize that repair doesn’t always mean sending your hearing aid away. Sometimes, we can repair it 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 magnitude of the damage, which is all the more reason to bring your devices in for repair as soon as you can).
There are still some circumstances where same day repair is not possible. And on those occasions, you could find yourself needing a backup pair of hearing aids. An old pair might be able to do a decent job as a backup so bring them in with you if you have a pair. We may even have some we can let you use while you wait.
Don’t Put Off Getting Help With Your Hearing Aids
If the hearing aids are starting to fade, the audio quality is beginning to fail, it’s essential to have it repaired.
That’s because you hope to avoid any downtime. Your overall health and your mental health are impacted by neglected hearing loss. An even more significant concern is that your hearing will get worse as your hearing aids sit forgotten in a drawer.
Your best chance of getting the maximum help from your hearing aids is to keep them working at their highest quality. And the best way to do that is to clean them, keep them charged, and, when needed, take your hearing aids to get some professional help.