Common Hearing Aid Problems & How to Fix Them

Hearing aids are an investment not only in your ears but your overall health and well-being! If you have recently purchased a new pair of hearing aids, you are most likely already enjoying the benefits across all aspects of your life such as improved communication, greater confidence, more ease of mobility, and more cognitive ease. Now that you have your hearing aids you are going to want to make sure you take care of them. Here are a few tips to help you get the best performance out of your hearing aids for years to come.

A Sound Investment

Hearing aids are commonly regarded as expensive, however, the Better Hearing Institute recently reported that those without hearing loss earn on average $30,000 less than those with treated or normal hearing.  When compared to the loss of earnings at work hearing aids are an incredibly economical investment for the average 5-7 years they last. Hearing aids are complex machines that are designed to work from the moment you wake up, till the moment you go to sleep at the end of the day. We demand a lot of performance from our hearing aids and keeping up with care and maintenance can help you achieve desired results. It’s all too common to stop wearing your hearing aids when they start to malfunction when many small adjustments can be done at home. Here are just a few common issues you can most likely fix on your own:

Your Hearing Aids are Too Quiet

If you are straining to hear through your hearing aids and the volume is cranked up, a malfunction is likely. Get to know your hearing aids and how they should look. That way if a problem occurs you will be able to spot it. Examine the microphone, tubing, and earpiece for any cracks, loose connections, dirt, oil, or blockages. Often wiping away debris with a soft dry cloth is enough to clear up a volume issue. 

Check for Cracks: If you discover a crack in your highly advanced hearing aids, do not hesitate to contact us so we can schedule a repair. This can prevent dirt or moisture from building up within the components and causing more serious issues such as short circuits.

Incorrect Setting: There are several settings on most hearing aids that provide many different types of listening. Some of these include settings for hearing in crowds, for enhanced music appreciation, or for outside. Often a volume issue could only be due to one setting or that you are using the wrong setting for certain environments.  Test out each setting to see if one works best. 

Time for an Upgrade: Hearing loss is a progressive issue. It can decline, even if you take good care to protect your ears. If your hearing aids seem too quiet, it could be you’re your hearing has declined. Often reprogramming can solve this issue. Make sure to have your hearing tested annually to detect decline before it gets to a point where you are struggling to hear.

Distorted Sound

If you’ve ever struggled with distortion with your hearing aids it could signal a weak battery. Check the battery charge to make sure it’s able to deliver enough power. Often the power is around the battery ports, which can become corroded over time, especially in climates with higher humidity. If you discover any corrosion, clean the batter ports with vinegar dipped cotton swab and the contacts should be as good as new.

Feedback

Digital hearing aids rarely struggle with distortion as the older analog models did. Even so, it still occurs with digital hearing aids. Sometimes the position of the hearing aids in the ears is enough to cause echo-like feedback. Sometimes a buildup of earwax around the device or in the ear canal can contribute to feedback issues. 

Regular Maintenance & Hearing Aid Repair

If you can’t figure out the issue after the initial inspection, do not worry. We are always here to address all your issues around hearing and hearing aids. Do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. We can guide you through troubleshooting scenarios with your hearing aids or schedule an in-person consultation.