Have you ever had your internet cut right as you’re getting to the best part of your favorite Netflix movie? Instead of finding out who won the baking show, you have to watch an endless spinning circle. And so you just wait. Is it your internet provider, modem, router, or maybe it will simply come back on its own? It’s not a great feeling.
Technology can be tremendously frustrating when it doesn’t work correctly. Your hearing aids definitely fall into this category. When they’re working correctly, hearing aids can help you remain connected with the ones you love and better hear co-workers when they talk to you.
But your symptoms of hearing loss can suddenly become very frustrating when your hearing aids quit working. You’ve been disappointed by the technology you count on. How do hearing aids just quit working? So how do you cope with that? Here are the three prevalent ways your hearing aids can malfunction and how to troubleshoot and identify them.
Three common issues with hearing aids (and some possible solutions)
Even though hearing aids are complex technology, people might experience three common issues with them. Here’s what might be causing those issues (and what you can do to fix them).
Whistling and feedback
So, maybe you’re trying to have a conversation with your family or watch your favorite television show and you start to hear a horrific whistling noise. Or maybe you notice some feedback. You start to think, “this is weird, what’s up with this whistling”?
Here are three potential problems that could be causing this whistling and feedback:
- Your hearing aids may not be sitting in your ears properly. Try removing them and putting them back in. You can also try reducing the volume (if this works, you may find some temporary relief, but it also likely means that the fit isn’t quite right and you should talk to us about it).
- The functionality of your hearing aid can be impacted by earwax accumulation in your ear canal. This is a relatively common one. That includes making your hearing aid whistle or feedback. If possible, you can attempt to clean some earwax out of your ear or talk to us about the best method to do that (do not use a cotton swab).
- For those who wear behind-the-ear hearing aids, the tubing that connects your earmold with your hearing aid may have become compromised. Try to examine this tubing as closely as possible and make sure nothing is loose and the tube doesn’t appear damaged.
Depending on the underlying cause of the feedback, we can help you resolve these issues if you can’t figure them out on your own.
No sound coming from your hearing aids
Your hearing aids should make, well, sound. That’s what they’re created to do! Something has certainly gone wrong if you can’t hear any sound coming out of your hearing aid. So what could cause hearing aids to drop all sound? Well, there are a few things:
- Earwax buildup: Here we go again with the earwax! Take a close look to see if you discover any earwax on the speakers or microphone. You want to make certain the device is nice and clean.
- Batteries: Be sure your batteries are fully charged. And whether your batteries are rechargeable or not, it may be worth switching them out for fresh ones.
- Your settings: If you have them, flip through your personalized settings. Your hearing aids may think you’re in a huge room when you’re actually in a little room because the setting isn’t right. The sound you’re hearing could be off as a consequence.
- Power: Everybody forgets to turn their hearing aids on once in a while. Check for this first. This potential problem can then be eliminated..
We are here for you if these measures don’t clear up your issues. Whether repair, maintenance, or replacement is your next step, we will be able to help you figure that out.
When you have your hearing aids in, you feel pain in your ears
Maybe your hearing aids are fine functionally but they hurt when you put them in. And you’re likely thinking: why do my ears ache when I wear my hearing aids? This type of discomfort isn’t exactly conducive to wearing your hearing aids on a day-to-day basis. So, what could be causing it?
- Time: Sometimes, it just takes some time to get used to your hearing aids. Each individual will have a different adjustment period. When you first get your hearing aids, we can help you get a reasonable concept of the adjustment period you can anticipate. If uncomfortable ears persist, speak with us about that as well!
- Fit: The most obvious issue can be the fit. Needless to say, when the fit is nice and tight, your hearing aids will work best. Which means that there can sometimes be discomfort involved in a poor fit. Many hearing aids can be tailored to your particular ears. Over the long haul, you will have fewer problems if you have a good fit. If you come in for a consultation, we can help you get the best fit for your device.
Avoid issues with a little test drive
Before you commit to a set of hearing aids, it’s a good plan to test them for a while. In the majority of cases we’ll let you test out a set of devices before you determine that’s the set for you.
Selecting the right hearing aids, adjusting them to fit your requirements, and helping with any extended issues you might have, are all things we will help with. In other words, when your devices stop working, you’ll have a resource that can help!
And that’s a lot more than you will get with an over-the-counter hearing aid!
