Reducing your chance of depression, minimizing the danger of falling, and enhancing cognitive ability are some of the unsuspected health advantages that have been shown to come from wearing hearing aids. Which is why when these devices seem like they fail to function properly, it’s so infuriating. The difference between a pleasant dinner with family or a terrible time can be made by discovering a fast solution when your hearing aid begins screeching with feedback or quits entirely.
The good news is, there are some practical troubleshooting steps you can take that could ease or address some common hearing aid problems. The faster you ascertain what’s going on with your hearing aid, the sooner you can go 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. Many hearing aids come with rechargeable batteries. Other devices are designed to have their batteries exchanged. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it most likely 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 feel like you are constantly struggling to hear what’s going on around you.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: If your hearing aid won’t turn on, or won’t stay on, there’s a good chance the battery is the principal problem.
Some solutions:
- Having the right batteries is crucial so make sure you double check that. Putting the wrong kind of battery in your hearing aid can cause malfunctions. (In some cases, the wrong kind of battery can be purchased in the right size, so double-checking is important.)
- Replace the batteries if your hearing aid is designed to allow that. In some situations, rechargeable batteries are sealed inside of the device, and if that’s the case, you might need to bring the hearing aid to a professional.
- Ensure the batteries are 100 % charged. Allow your rechargeable batteries to charge overnight or for at least a few hours.
Try Cleaning 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 will get a little dirty in the process of helping you hear. Most hearing aid models are manufactured to deal with some earwax buildup, but it’s a practical idea to have a regular cleaning schedule too. A few problems linked to buildup and dirt might include:
- Muffled sound: If your hearing aid sounds like it’s hiding behind something, it might just be. There might be earwax or other buildup getting in the way.
- Discomfort: If they feel as if they’re suddenly too big for your ears, it may be because earwax buildup has begun interfering with the fit. The plastic will sometimes need to be replaced if it starts to harden.
- Feedback: The feedback canceling function on your hearing aid can be disrupted by earwax buildup causing a whistling sound.
Some solutions:
- Bringing your hearing aid to a professional for regular upkeep is an essential procedure.
- Double-check the tip of the hearing aid to ensure it is not covered or blocked by earwax or debris. Clean with your cleaning tool or as directed by the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Check the earwax filter to ensure it’s clean; replace it if needed.
- Gently clean your hearing aids, as per the manufacturer’s guidelines.
You May Just Need a Little Time
The hearing aid itself isn’t always the problem. When you first pop in your hearing aids, your brain has to get used to hearing the outside world again. Specific sounds (the buzzing of an air conditioner, for instance) may at first seem unpleasantly loud. You might also detect that particular consonant sounds might seem overly pronounced.
These are all signs that your brain is racing to catch up to auditory stimuli again and, in time, you’ll adjust.
But it’s important to get help with any issues before too much time passes. If your hearing aids are uncomfortable or you’re getting constant noise issues or things don’t seem to be working just the way they should be, we can help get you back on track and ensure you’re enjoying, not enduring, your hearing aids.