Reducing your chance of depression, minimizing the danger of falling, and enhancing cognitive ability are some of the unexpected health benefits that have been proven to come from using hearing aids. Which is why it can be so aggravating when these devices have malfunctions. When you start detecting buzzing feedback, or when your hearing aids suddenly stop working, expedient solutions can make the difference between a pleasant family dinner or a miserable one.
The good news is, there are some practical troubleshooting steps you can take that could ease or address some common hearing aid issues. The faster you figure out what’s going on with your hearing aid, the sooner you can get back to what’s important.
Maybe The Batteries Need to be Changed
A low battery is one of the most prevalent issues with hearing aids. Some hearing aids have rechargeable batteries. Other devices are manufactured to have their batteries exchanged. Here are some of the symptoms that may lead you to believe the batteries are the bad guy when your device starts to malfunction:
- Dull sound quality: Voices sound muffled like they are far away or underwater.
- Weak sounds: You’re struggling to hear what’s taking place around you and that seems to be occurring more and more.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: There’s a good chance that your battery is the problem if your hearing aid keeps shutting itself off or doesn’t turn on at all.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Double-check to make certain the right batteries are installed. Putting the wrong kind of battery into your hearing aid can cause malfunctions. (Sometimes, a battery will seem to be the same size as a different battery so it’s crucial that you be cautious and check twice.)
- If you have replaceable batteries, swap them out on a regular basis. In certain cases, rechargeable batteries are sealed inside of the device, and if that’s the case, you might have to bring the hearing aid to a specialist.
- Ensure the batteries are 100 % charged. Allow your rechargeable batteries to charge overnight or for at least a few hours.
Every Surface Needs to be Cleaned
Needless to say, hearing aids log a lot of time inside your ears. And your ears have a lot going on inside of them. So while helping you hear, it’s not surprising that your hearing aid can get a little dirty. Most hearing aid models are designed to deal with a certain amount of earwax accumulation, but it’s a good idea to have a regular cleaning schedule too. A few issues linked to buildup and dirt could include:
- Feedback: It’s possible that earwax buildup can interfere with the feedback canceling features of your hearing aid, causing you to hear a whining noise.
- Discomfort: If they feel as if they’re suddenly too big for your ears, it might be because earwax accumulation has begun interfering with the fit. Occasionally, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be exchanged.
- Muffled sound: Earwax and other buildup can cause your hearing aid to sound like it’s buried underneath something.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Gently clean your hearing aids, as per the manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Take care of the filter by examining it and, when needed, replacing it.
- The tip of your hearing aid can become covered and clogged up by earwax and debris so check for that. Clean with your cleaning tool or as advised by the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Ensure you are sending your hearing aids to a specialist for regular cleaning and maintenance.
Try Giving Yourself Some Time
The hearing aid itself isn’t always the issue. When your brain isn’t used to hearing the outside world, it can take a little time to adjust to your new hearing aids. As your mind adapts, you might notice that certain sounds are unpleasantly loud (the hum of the refrigerator, for instance). You may also notice that certain consonant sounds might seem overly pronounced.
As your brain works to catch up, before long, you’ll adapt.
But it’s important to get help with any problems before too much time passes. 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.