Hearing aids have been proven to benefit your health in unexpected ways including boosting cognitive abilities, reducing depression, and limiting your risk of falls. Which is why when your hearing aids seem like they malfunction, it’s so frustrating. When you start observing buzzing feedback, or when your hearing aids abruptly go silent, expedient solutions can make the difference between a lovely family dinner or a difficult one.
Fortunately, some of the most basic hearing aid issues can be reduced with a few basic troubleshooting steps. The sooner you ascertain what’s going on with your hearing aid, the sooner you can go back to what’s important.
Try Swapping Out The Batteries
A low battery is one of the most prevalent issues with hearing aids. Rechargeable batteries come standard with some hearing aid models. Other devices are manufactured to have their batteries exchanged. If you’re going through any of these symptoms, it most likely means the batteries are to blame for your hearing aid issues.
- Dull sound quality: Voices sound dull like they are distant or underwater.
- 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 possibility that your battery is to blame if your hearing aid keeps turning itself off or doesn’t turn on at all.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Make certain you have fully charged batteries. If your hearing aid is equipped with rechargeable batteries, charge them for several hours or overnight.
- Having the correct batteries is essential so make sure you double check that. Your hearing aid can be damaged by the incorrect battery. (Sometimes, the wrong type of battery can be purchased in the right size, so double-checking is important.)
- Swap out the batteries if your hearing aid is designed to allow that. You may have to bring your hearing aid in to a professional if the battery is sealed inside.
Try to Clean Every Surface
Needless to say, hearing aids log a lot of time inside your ears. And your ears have a lot taking place inside of them. So while helping you hear, it’s not surprising that your hearing aid can get a bit dirty. In spite of the fact that hearing aids are made to deal with some earwax, it’s a practical idea to get them cleaned once in a while. Here are a few of the issues that can come from too much buildup:
- Discomfort: Earwax can buildup to the point where the fit of your hearing aid becomes a little tight. Sometimes, the plastic in the molds will harden and need to be replaced.
- Muffled sound: Earwax and other buildup can make your hearing aid sound like it’s buried underneath something.
- Feedback: It’s possible that earwax buildup can obstruct the feedback canceling features of your hearing aid, causing you to hear a whistling noise.
Here’s what you do about it:
- Taking your hearing aid to a specialist for regular upkeep is an important procedure.
- Maintain the filter by examining it and, when needed, replacing it.
- Gently clean your hearing aids, as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- 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 advised by the manufacturer’s instructions.
You May Simply Need a Little Time
In some cases, the issue isn’t an issue with the hearing aid. When your brain isn’t used to hearing the outside world, it can take some time to adjust to your new hearing aids. Particular sounds (the buzzing of an air conditioner, for instance) might initially come across as unpleasantly loud. You might also notice that certain consonant sounds might seem overly pronounced.
These are all signs that your brain is racing to catch up to sound again and, in time, you’ll adjust.
However, it’s worthwhile not to let too much time pass, with any problem, before seeking help. Your hearing aids should make your life more enjoyable, so if things aren’t working the way they ought to be, or your hearing aids are uncomfortable, give us a call, we can help.