Lowering your chance of depression, minimizing your risk of falling, and increasing cognitive ability are some of the unexpected health benefits that have been shown to come from using hearing aids. Which is why when these devices seem like they malfunction, it’s so frustrating. When you begin detecting screeching feedback, or when your hearing aids abruptly stop working, quick solutions can be the difference between a wonderful family dinner or a difficult one.
Luckily, there are some basic troubleshooting measures you can take that could ease or manage some typical hearing aid problems. The faster you determine what’s wrong with your hearing aid, the sooner you can go back to what’s important.
Try Swapping Out The Batteries
A low battery is one of the most prevalent challenges with hearing aids. Rechargeable batteries come standard with some hearing aid models. Changeable batteries are standard on other hearing aids. Here are a few of the symptoms that may give you a clue that the batteries are the culprit when your device starts to malfunction:
- Dull sound quality: It seems like somebody is talking to you underwater or from the other side of the room.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: If your hearing aid won’t turn on, or won’t stay on, there’s a good chance the battery is the primary issue.
- Weak sounds: You feel like you are always straining to hear what’s happening around you.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Make certain you have completely charged batteries. Let your rechargeable batteries charge overnight or at least for several hours.
- Check twice to make certain the correct batteries are used. Putting the wrong kind of battery into your hearing aid can result in malfunctions. (In some cases, the wrong kind of battery can be purchased in the right size, so double-checking is crucial.)
- If you have replaceable batteries, replace them regularly. In some situations, rechargeable batteries are sealed into the device, and if that’s the case, you might need to take the hearing aid to a professional.
Every Surface Needs to be Cleaned
Obviously, hearing aids log a lot of time inside of your ears. And your ears have a lot going on inside of them. So it’s no surprise that your hearing aids can get somewhat dirty in the process of helping you hear. Most hearing aid models are manufactured to handle a certain amount of earwax buildup, but it’s a practical idea to have a routine cleaning schedule also. A few problems linked to buildup and dirt could include:
- Muffled sound: Earwax and other buildup can cause your hearing aid to sound like it’s buried underneath something.
- Discomfort: Earwax can accumulate to the point where your hearing aid fits a little tight. Occasionally, 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 whistling sound.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Check the earwax filter to make sure it is clean; replace it if necessary.
- Taking your hearing aid to a specialist for regular upkeep is an important procedure.
- 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 directed by the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Lightly clean your hearing aids, as per the manufacturer’s suggestions.
You May Simply Need a Little Time
The hearing aid itself isn’t always the issue. When you first pop in your hearing aids, your brain needs to get accustomed to hearing the world again. Particular sounds (the buzzing of an air conditioner, for instance) might initially come across as unpleasantly loud. And certain consonants often sound louder than the rest of the speech.
These are all signs that your brain is racing to catch up to auditory stimuli again and, before long, you’ll adapt.
But it’s important to get help with any problems before too much time goes by. Your hearing aids should make your life more enjoyable, so if things aren’t working the way they should be, or your hearing aids are uncomfortable, give us a call, we can help.