Lowering your chance of depression, minimizing the danger of falling, and improving cognitive ability are some of the surprising health benefits that have been proven to come from using hearing aids. Which is why it can be so frustrating when these devices have malfunctions. When you start detecting buzzing feedback, or when your hearing aids suddenly stop working, expedient solutions can be the difference between a wonderful family dinner or a difficult one.
Luckily, there are some practical troubleshooting measures you can take which could relieve or manage some common hearing aid issues. The faster you ascertain 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
One of the most common problems with hearing aids is a low battery. Some hearing aids come with rechargeable batteries. Other devices are designed to have their batteries changed. If you’re going through any of these symptoms, it probably means the batteries are to blame for your hearing aid problems.
- Dull sound quality: It feels as if somebody is talking to you underwater or from the other side of the room.
- Weak sounds: You’re battling to hear what’s taking place around you and that seems to be occurring more frequently.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: If your hearing aid won’t turn on, or keeps shutting off, there’s a good possibility the battery is the primary issue.
Some solutions:
- Make certain you have fully charged batteries. If your hearing aid has rechargeable batteries, charge them for several hours or overnight.
- Double-check to make certain the right batteries are installed. Putting the wrong type of battery in your hearing aid can cause malfunctions. (Sometimes, the wrong type of battery can be purchased in the correct size, so double-checking is crucial.)
- Replace the batteries if your hearing aid is manufactured to allow that. You may need to take your hearing aid in to a professional if the battery is sealed inside.
Try to Clean Every Surface
Hearing aids, naturally, spend a lot of time in your ears. And your ears have a lot going on inside of them. So it’s no surprise that your hearing aids may get somewhat dirty in the process of helping you hear. Despite the fact that hearing aids are made to deal with some earwax, it’s a good idea to get them cleaned once in a while. Here are some of the issues that can come from too much buildup:
- Feedback: The feedback canceling function on your hearing aid can be disrupted by earwax buildup causing a whistling noise.
- Discomfort: If they feel as though they’re suddenly too big for your ears, it may be because earwax accumulation has started interfering with the fit. Occasionally, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be exchanged.
- 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.
Some solutions:
- Take care of the filter by checking it and, if 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.
- Clean your hearing aid lightly in the way that the manufacturer has recommended.
- Ensure you are sending your hearing aids to a specialist for routine cleaning and maintenance.
Try Giving Yourself a Little Time
The hearing aid itself isn’t necessarily the problem. When your brain isn’t used to hearing the outside world, it can take a little time to adjust to your new hearing aids. Particular sounds (the buzzing of an air conditioner, for instance) may at first come across as unpleasantly loud. You may also notice that certain consonant sounds may seem overly pronounced.
These are all signs that your brain is racing to catch up to sound again and, in time, you’ll adapt.
But it’s worthwhile 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, contact us, we can help.