Hearing aids have been demonstrated to support your health in surprising ways including enhancing cognitive abilities, minimizing depression, and decreasing your chance of falling. Which is why it can be so frustrating when these devices have malfunctions. The difference between an enjoyable dinner with family or a terrible time can be made by finding a quick remedy when your hearing aid starts screeching with feedback or quits entirely.
The good news is, there are some basic troubleshooting measures you can take which could ease or address some common hearing aid issues. figuring out what’s wrong with your hearing aid as fast as possible will get you back to what’s important all the sooner.
Maybe The Batteries Need to be Changed
One of the most common problems with hearing aids is a low battery. Rechargeable batteries come standard with many hearing aid models. Other devices are made 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.
- Weak sounds: You feel like you are constantly straining to hear what’s going on around you.
- Dull sound quality: Voices sound muffled like they are distant or underwater.
- 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 doesn’t turn on at all.
Some solutions:
- Having the correct batteries is crucial so make certain you double check that. 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.)
- Exchange the batteries if your hearing aid is manufactured to allow that. You might need to bring your hearing aid in to a specialist if the battery is sealed inside.
- Verify that the batteries are completely charged. If your hearing aid has rechargeable batteries, charge them for several hours or overnight.
Try to Clean Every Surface
Needless to say, 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 not surprising that your hearing aids may get somewhat dirty while helping you hear. Most hearing aid models are manufactured to cope with some earwax buildup, but it’s a good idea to have a regular cleaning plan also. Here are a few of the issues that can come from too much buildup:
- Muffled sound: If your hearing aid sounds like it’s lost behind something, it might just be. There could be earwax or other buildup getting in the way.
- Feedback: The feedback canceling function on your hearing aid can be disrupted by earwax buildup creating a whistling sound.
- Discomfort: Earwax can accumulate to the point where the fit of your hearing aid becomes a little tight. Occasionally, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be replaced.
Some solutions:
- Clean your hearing aid lightly in the way that the manufacturer has instructed.
- Make sure you are bringing your hearing aids to a professional for routine maintenance and cleaning.
- Take care of the filter by examining it and, when needed, replacing it.
- The tip of your hearing aid can become covered and plugged up by earwax and debris so check for that. The manufacturer will typically supply a cleaning tool which can be employed along with the manufacturer’s cleaning instruction.
You May Just Need a Little Time
In some cases, the issue isn’t a problem with the hearing aid. When you first put in your hearing aids, your brain needs to get accustomed to hearing the outside world again. As your mind adjust, you might notice that some sounds are unpleasantly loud (the hum of the refrigerator, for example). You may also detect that particular consonant sounds may seem overly pronounced.
These are all indications that your brain is racing to catch up to sound again and, before long, you’ll adjust.
However, it’s important not to let too much time pass, with any issue, before getting help. If your hearing aids are uncomfortable or you’re getting continuous noise problems or things don’t seem to be working exactly the way they should be, we can help get you back on track and ensure you’re enjoying, not enduring, your hearing aids.