Millions of Americans suffer from hearing loss in America, and hearing aids are a great option for not only helping all of those people to hear better, but to prevent further hearing loss. Since hearing loss is not reversible, hearing aids are an important treatment option that can contribute to better mental health and social life as well.
If you already own hearing aids, you know that good ones are an investment, and you probably do your best to take care of them and protect that investment.
There are many common hearing aid issues that are easily fixed at home, so before you take them in, try these steps to see if the issue you are experiencing can be resolved without an expensive professional repair.
These tips may also help prevent you from having to go without your hearing aids for any length of time while you take them to get repaired.
The most common hearing aid problems are:
- A distorted or unusual sound—nothing sounds normal
- They are producing feedback or “whistling”
- They are not loud enough
- No sound is being produced
Try these simple steps for each issue. If these steps don’t work, it may be time to take them in for repair.
Try these simple steps for each issue. If these steps don’t work, it may be time to take them in for repair.
- A distorted or unusual sound
Check your batteries for corrosion—they may need to be replaced. If there is corrosion on the battery contacts, you can try to clean them by opening and closing the battery compartment several times or bringing them into your hearing center to be cleaned.
It’s possible the memory or program got changed inadvertently. Re-set the program and see if that helps.
If you suspect your hearing aids are damaged, take them into your hearing center for inspection.
- They are producing feedback or “whistling”
If the hearing aids are making a whistling or distorted sound, they are most commonly not inserted correctly. Try removing them and re-inserting them snugly in your ear.
Try turning down the volume. If the whistling sound subsides, you may have an improper fit—this can be adjusted at your hearing care provider. This can sometimes happen if you have lost a lot of weight recently.
It’s possible your ear canals are blocked with earwax. If you think this is the case, you may need to come in to have your ears thoroughly cleaned.
- They are not loud enough
First adjust the volume and check the response.
Then visually examine your hearing aids to see if there is anything physically blocking the microphone input: it could be earwax, dust or something else.
If your hearing aid contains a tube, inspect that for any flaws, like cracks, moisture inside, or a blockage. Your hearing center should be able to help you replace tubing fairly quickly and easily.
It’s possible the program got switched, so change to a new program to see if that changes anything.
When is the last time you went in for a hearing evaluation? It’s possible your hearing has declined since your last check, so a hearing screening may be in order. While you are in the office, they can check your hearing aid for any issues and do diagnostics to make sure they are in full working order.
- No sound is being produced
Repeat the steps from above, ensuring there are no broken parts, blockages or breakage that you can see. Your hearing aids may need to be cleaned.
Is it possible your battery needs to be replaced? If it was replaced recently, ensure the battery door is closed securely. Also ensure the battery is not inserted backwards.
If none of these troubleshooting tips work, it’s possible your hearing aids are damaged. Come in so we can take a look.
Here at California Hearing Center we are committed to your hearing health. Call us today to set up an appointment for a hearing screening. We can discuss hearing aid options with you and work with you to find one that fits your budget.