Hearing aids have been proven to improve your health in surprising ways including increasing cognitive abilities, reducing depression, and decreasing your chance of falling. Which is why it can be so frustrating when these devices fail to function properly. When you begin detecting buzzing feedback, or when your hearing aids abruptly stop working, quick solutions can be the difference between a wonderful family dinner or a miserable one.
Luckily, there are some practical troubleshooting measures you can take that could ease or manage some common hearing aid problems. figuring out what’s wrong with your hearing aid as fast as possible will can you back to what’s important all the sooner.
Maybe The Batteries Need to be Changed
A low battery is one of the most common issues with hearing aids. Many hearing aids have rechargeable batteries. Other devices are made to have their batteries swapped out. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it probably means the batteries are the reason for your hearing aid problems.
- Dull sound quality: Voices sound muffled like they are distant or underwater.
- Weak sounds: You feel like you are constantly straining to hear what’s happening around you.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: If your hearing aid doesn’t turn on, or keeps shutting off, there’s a good possibility the battery is the primary issue.
Some solutions:
- Having the correct batteries is crucial so make sure you double check that. Putting the wrong kind of battery into your hearing aid can lead to malfunctions. (In some cases, the wrong type of battery can be purchased in the right size, so double-checking is crucial.)
- Make certain you have completely charged batteries. Let your rechargeable batteries charge overnight or for at least a few hours.
- Exchange the batteries if your hearing aid is designed to allow that. You might need to bring your hearing aid in to be worked on if the battery is sealed inside.
Every Surface Should be Cleaned
Needless to say, hearing aids log a lot of time inside your ears. And there’s a lot happening in there (your ears are like party rooms, only more hygienic). So it’s no surprise that your hearing aids will get a little dirty while helping you hear. In spite of the fact that hearing aids are designed to cope with some earwax, it’s a good idea to have them cleaned once in a while. A few issues linked to buildup and dirt could include:
- Discomfort: If they feel as if they’re suddenly too large for your ears, it may be because earwax buildup has begun interfering with the fit. The plastic will occasionally need to be replaced if it starts to harden.
- Muffled sound: If your hearing aid sounds like it’s lost behind something, maybe it is. There may be earwax or other accumulation getting in the way.
- Feedback: The feedback canceling feature on your hearing aid can be interrupted by earwax buildup creating a whistling sound.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Clean your hearing aid carefully in the way that the manufacturer has recommended.
- Bringing your hearing aid to an audiologist for routine upkeep is an essential procedure.
- Double-check the tip of the hearing aid to make certain it is not covered or blocked by earwax or debris. The manufacturer will usually provide a cleaning tool which can be employed along with the manufacturer’s cleaning instruction.
- Check the earwax filter to ensure it’s clean; replace it if necessary.
Try Giving Yourself a Little Time
Sometimes, the problem isn’t an issue with the hearing aid. When you first put in your hearing aids, your brain needs to get accustomed to hearing the world again. Specific sounds (the buzzing of an air conditioner, for example) might initially come across as unpleasantly loud. And some consonants frequently sound louder than the rest of the speech.
These are all signs that your brain is racing to catch up to sound again and, in time, you’ll adjust.
But it’s important to get help with any issues before too much time goes by. If your hearing aids are uncomfortable or you’re getting constant noise problems 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.
