Hearing aids have been demonstrated to benefit your health in surprising ways including enhancing cognitive function, reducing depression, and decreasing your chance of falling. Which is why when your hearing aids seem like they fail to function properly, it’s so infuriating. When you begin noticing buzzing feedback, or when your hearing aids abruptly stop working, expedient solutions can make the difference between a wonderful family dinner or a miserable one.
Fortunately, some of the most fundamental hearing aid issues can be reduced with a few practical troubleshooting steps. Finding out what’s wrong with your hearing aid as quickly as you will get you back to what’s important all the sooner.
Try Swapping Out The Batteries
One of the most prevalent issues with hearing aids is a low battery. Some hearing aids come with rechargeable batteries. Other devices are designed to have their batteries changed. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it probably means the batteries are the reason for your hearing aid problems.
- Dull sound quality: It feels like someone is talking to you underwater or from the other side of the room.
- Weak sounds: You feel like you are always struggling to hear what’s happening around you.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: There’s a good chance 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:
- Make sure you have completely charged batteries. Let your rechargeable batteries charge overnight or at least for several hours.
- Check twice to make certain the right batteries are used. Your hearing aid can be damaged by the wrong battery. (Occasionally, a battery will appear to be the same size as a different battery so it’s essential that you be cautious and check twice.)
- If you have replaceable batteries, replace them on a regular basis. You might need to take your hearing aid in to a professional 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. Despite the fact that hearing aids are designed to cope with some earwax, it’s a practical idea to get them cleaned now and again. Here are a few of the problems that can come from too much buildup:
- Discomfort: If they feel as if they’re suddenly too large for your ears, it could be because earwax buildup has begun interfering with the fit. The plastic will occasionally 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.
- Muffled sound: If your hearing aid sounds like it’s hiding behind something, maybe it is. There might be earwax or other accumulation getting in the way.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Clean your hearing aid lightly in the way that the manufacturer has recommended.
- The tip of your hearing aid can become coated and plugged up by earwax and debris so look for that. Clean with your cleaning tool or as advised by the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Bringing your hearing aid to a specialist for regular upkeep is an important procedure.
- Take care of the filter by checking it and, when needed, replacing it.
You May Simply Need a Little Time
The hearing aid itself isn’t necessarily the problem. When you first pop in your hearing aids, your brain needs to get used to hearing the outside world again. Certain 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 clues that your brain is racing to catch up to sound again and, in time, you’ll adapt.
However, it’s worthwhile 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 issues or things don’t seem to be working just the way they ought to be, we can help get you back on track and make sure you’re enjoying, not enduring, your hearing aids.