Lowering your chance of depression, decreasing your risk of falling, and enhancing cognitive ability are some of the surprising health benefits that have been proven to come from wearing hearing aids. Which is why when these devices seem like they malfunction, it’s so frustrating. The difference between a pleasant dinner with family or a terrible time can be made by finding a quick remedy when your hearing aid begins screeching with feedback or quits entirely.
Fortunately, some of the most fundamental hearing aid problems can be reduced with a few practical troubleshooting measures. The faster you determine what’s going on with your hearing aid, the sooner you can get back to what’s important.
Try Swapping Out The Batteries
One of the most common problems with hearing aids is a low battery. Rechargeable batteries come standard with some hearing aid models. Other devices are designed to have their batteries exchanged. Here are a few of the symptoms that might give you a clue that the batteries are the culprit when your device goes on the fritz:
- Weak sounds: You feel like you are constantly straining to hear what’s going on around you.
- Dull sound quality: It seems as if somebody is talking to you underwater or from across the room.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: There’s a good chance that your battery is to blame if your hearing aid keeps turning itself off or doesn’t turn on at all.
Some solutions:
- Exchange the batteries if your hearing aid is designed to allow that. You may need to take your hearing aid in to a professional if the battery is sealed inside.
- Having the right batteries is essential so make sure you double check that. Putting the wrong kind of battery in your hearing aid can cause malfunctions. (Sometimes, a battery will appear to be the same size as a different battery so it’s crucial that you be cautious and check twice.)
- Make certain you have completely charged batteries. Allow your rechargeable batteries to charge overnight or for at least a few hours.
Try to Clean Every Surface
Obviously, hearing aids log a lot of time inside of your ears. And there’s a lot happening in there (your ears are like party rooms, only more hygienic). So while helping you hear, it’s not surprising that your hearing aid can get somewhat dirty. Most hearing aid models are manufactured to deal with some earwax accumulation, but it’s a practical idea to have a regular cleaning plan also. Here are a few of the issues that can come from too much buildup:
- Discomfort: Earwax can accumulate to the point where the fit of your hearing aid becomes a little tight. Sometimes, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be replaced.
- Muffled sound: Earwax and other buildup can make your hearing aid sound like it’s buried underneath something.
- Feedback: It’s possible that earwax buildup can obstruct the feedback canceling features of your hearing aid, causing you to hear a whistling sound.
Some solutions:
- Examine the earwax filter to make sure it is clean; replace it if needed.
- Double-check the tip of the hearing aid to make certain it is not covered or clogged by earwax or debris. The manufacturer will normally supply a cleaning tool which can be used along with the manufacturer’s cleaning instruction.
- Clean your hearing aid carefully in the way that the manufacturer has directed.
- Ensure you are sending your hearing aids to a professional for routine maintenance and cleaning.
You May Simply Need 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 some time to get used to your new hearing aids. Specific sounds (the buzzing of an air conditioner, for example) may initially seem unpleasantly loud. And some consonants frequently sound louder than the rest of the speech.
These are all indications that your brain is racing to catch up to sound again and, before long, you’ll adjust.
But it’s worthwhile 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 should be, or your hearing aids are uncomfortable, give us a call, we can help.