Hearing aids have been shown to support your health in unsuspected ways including increasing cognitive abilities, minimizing depression, and decreasing your chance of falling. Which is why when your hearing aids seem like they fail to function properly, it’s so frustrating. The difference between a pleasant dinner with family or a horrible time can be made by discovering a quick solution when your hearing aid begins screeching with feedback or goes silent altogether.
Fortunately, some of the most basic hearing aid problems can be alleviated with a few practical troubleshooting measures. The sooner you determine 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
A low battery is one of the most common challenges with hearing aids. Some hearing aids have rechargeable batteries. Other devices are manufactured to have their batteries swapped out. If you’re going through any of these symptoms, it most likely means the batteries are the reason for your hearing aid problems.
- Weak sounds: You’re battling to hear what’s taking place around you and that seems to be occurring more frequently.
- Hearing aids won’t turn on: If your hearing aid doesn’t turn on, or won’t stay on, there’s a good possibility the battery is the main problem.
- Dull sound quality: Voices sound muffled like they are distant or underwater.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Check twice to make sure the correct batteries are used. Putting the wrong kind of battery into your hearing aid can lead to malfunctions. (Sometimes, a battery will seem to be the same size as a different battery so it’s essential that you be cautious and check twice.)
- Make sure you have completely charged batteries. If your hearing aid is equipped with rechargeable batteries, let them charge for several hours or overnight.
- If you have replaceable batteries, swap them out regularly. In certain cases, rechargeable batteries are sealed inside of the device, and if that’s the case, you may have to take the hearing aid to a professional.
Every Surface Should be Cleaned
Hearing aids, obviously, spend a lot of time in your ears. And your ears have a lot going on inside of them. So in the process of helping you hear, it’s no surprise that your hearing aid can get a little dirty. Most hearing aid models are manufactured to handle some earwax accumulation, but it’s a good idea to have a routine cleaning schedule also. Here are some of the issues that can come from too much buildup:
- Muffled sound: Earwax and other buildup can make your hearing aid sound like it’s buried underneath something.
- Discomfort: Earwax can accumulate to the point where your hearing aid fits a little tight. The plastic will occasionally need to be replaced if it starts to harden.
- Feedback: It’s possible that earwax buildup can interfere with the feedback canceling functions of your hearing aid, causing you to hear a whistling sound.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Clean your hearing aid gently in the way that the manufacturer has advised.
- The tip of your hearing aid can become covered and plugged up by earwax and debris so look for that. 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 necessary.
- Taking your hearing aid to a professional for regular upkeep is an important procedure.
Try Giving Yourself a Little Time
In some cases, the problem isn’t a problem with the hearing aid. When your brain isn’t used to hearing the outside world, it can take some time to get used to your new hearing aids. As your mind adapts, you may notice that specific sounds are unpleasantly loud (the hum of the refrigerator, for instance). You may also detect that particular consonant sounds might seem overly pronounced.
These are all clues that your brain is racing to catch up to auditory stimuli again and, in time, you’ll adapt.
However, it’s important not to let too much time pass, with any issue, before seeking help. Your hearing aids should make your life more enjoyable, so if things aren’t working the way they should be, or your hearing aids are uncomfortable, contact us, we can help.