Lowering your chance of depression, decreasing the danger of falling, and enhancing cognitive ability are some of the surprising health advantages that have been shown to come from using hearing aids. Which is why it can be so irritating when these devices have malfunctions. The difference between a delightful dinner with family or a terrible time can be made by discovering a fast solution when your hearing aid starts 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.
Maybe The Batteries Need to be Swapped Out
One of the most prevalent issues with hearing aids is a low battery. Rechargeable batteries come standard with many hearing aid models. Changeable batteries are standard on other models. Here are some of the symptoms that might 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.
- Weak sounds: You feel like you are constantly straining to hear what’s happening around you.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: There’s a good possibility that your battery is the problem if your hearing aid keeps shutting itself off or won’t turn on at all.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Verify that the batteries are 100 % charged. If your hearing aid comes with rechargeable batteries, charge them for a few hours or overnight.
- If you have replaceable batteries, swap them out on a regular basis. You may need to take your hearing aid in to a specialist if the battery is sealed inside.
- Double-check to make sure the correct batteries are used. Putting the wrong kind of battery into your hearing aid can cause malfunctions. (Sometimes, the wrong type of battery can be purchased in the right size, so double-checking is crucial.)
Try to Clean Every Surface
Hearing aids, obviously, spend a lot of time in your ears. And your ears have a lot going on inside of them. So while helping you hear, it’s no surprise that your hearing aid can get a bit dirty. Most hearing aid models are manufactured to handle some earwax accumulation, but it’s a practical idea to have a regular cleaning plan too. Here are some of the issues that can come from too much buildup:
- Feedback: The feedback canceling function on your hearing aid can be interrupted by earwax buildup creating a whistling sound.
- Muffled sound: Earwax and other buildup can cause your hearing aid to sound like it’s buried beneath something.
- Discomfort: If they feel as though they’re suddenly too big for your ears, it could be because earwax buildup has begun interfering with the fit. The plastic will sometimes need to be replaced if it begins to harden.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Check the earwax filter to ensure it is clean; replace it if necessary.
- Lightly clean your hearing aids, as per the manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Taking your hearing aid to a professional for regular upkeep is an important procedure.
- Double-check the tip of the hearing aid to ensure it’s not covered or plugged by debris or earwax. Clean with your cleaning tool or as directed by the manufacturer’s instructions.
Try Giving Yourself Some Time
Sometimes, the issue isn’t a problem with the hearing aid. When you first pop in your hearing aids, your brain needs to get accustomed to hearing the outside world again. As your mind adjust, you may notice that specific sounds are unpleasantly loud (the hum of the refrigerator, for instance). You might also notice that particular consonant sounds might seem overly pronounced.
These are all indications that your brain is racing to catch up to auditory stimuli again and, before long, you’ll adapt.
But it’s worthwhile to get help with any issues 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, give us a call, we can help.