We tend to notice technology the most when it stops working. With hearing aids that’s particularly true: To the majority of people who wear them, hearing aids are more than a piece of technology; they’re a vital lifeline to the rest of the world.
It’s both emotionally and physiologically essential to come up with solutions for broken hearing aids as quickly as possible. Whether you’ve been wearing your hearing aids for a week, a year, or decades, troubleshooting can be a high-stakes, troublesome process. But there are some relatively easy steps you can try to get your hearing aid working correctly again.
Preventing Trouble Before it Occurs
Hearing aids are no exception to the rule, like any other piece of tech, they need regular upkeep. Although the casing may appear simple and robust, the electronics inside can be amazingly sophisticated.
So this means upkeep is essential. There are some easy ways you can make sure to take care of your hearing aids while you’re using them.
Keep Your Hearing Aids Clean
Your ears normally and naturally produce a certain amount of wax each day. And, to some degree, that earwax is helpful for your ears. But your hearing aids can be damaged by it. To help improve the longevity of your device keep your hearing aids clean and clear of wax. In fact, a built-in wax filter comes standard with most hearing aids that should also be periodically cleaned.
Moisture is The Enemy of Hearing Aids
Moisture and electronics don’t go well together. The effectiveness of your hearing aids can be jeopardized, in spite of the best protection technology available, if it is routinely exposed to moisture.
This means that you should not use your hearing aids in the shower or while swimming. Also, if your hearing aids do get wet, dry them with a towel; heat from a hairdryer, as an example, can damage your hearing aids.
Schedule an Appointment With Professional Cleaners
Hearing aids are sensitive (and often expensive) technology, and as such, they need specialized cleaning practices. Even if you’re fairly thorough about your own cleaning habits, there are just some things that can be better achieved by a specialized cleaner.
Every 4-6 months is the suggested time between cleanings.
How to Troubleshoot Existing Issues
Protective steps are important if your hearing aids are currently functioning correctly. You’re most likely more interested in quick fixes if your experiencing problems with your hearing aids not working anymore.
Try one of the following steps if your hearing aids aren’t working correctly:
- Adjust the volume. Sometimes you can do this with a remote or manually with the wheel on the hearing aid. If your hearing aid has both options, try both ways.
- Take a good look at your hearing aids for visible signs of damage, such as blemishes or cracks. Such damage could indicate the hearing aid needs to be repaired.
- Look inside the battery compartment. Look for corrosion or loose wiring. If you find corrosion, you can attempt to carefully clean out, but considerable damage will need to be fixed professionally.
- Check your hearing aid for wax or debris build up. If you discover any wax accumulation or debris, clean them away.
- Change out your battery or power source, even if your batteries are rechargeable.
- Check your own ears. It’s possible that earwax accumulation in your ear canal is interfering with the sound from your hearing aid.
- Turn your hearing aid of then back on. In some cases, this will correct the problem.
- Toggle between programs or change the settings. Many hearing aids are different in this regard, so your plan of action will depend on the model you’re using.
It’s likely that you will have to have the device fixed professionally if you want it back to peak performance if none of these options work.
What if Nothing I Try Helps?
You will likely have two choices if you’ve tried troubleshooting your hearing aid and it still doesn’t work: you either have to buy a new pair or send them in for repair. Which choice works better for you will depend on your situation, the age of your hearing aids, and other factors.
If your hearing aids aren’t functioning well right now, take the time to try some troubleshooting. A discussion with your hearing professional to find a solution is the next step if that doesn’t help. To find a solution schedule an appointment today.
