Hearing Health Blog

Elderly man can’t hear because his hearing aid needs a new battery.

Hearing aids have been demonstrated to support your health in unexpected ways including improving cognitive abilities, minimizing depression, and limiting your chance of falling. Which is why it can be so aggravating when these devices fail to function properly. The difference between a pleasant dinner with family or a terrible time can be made by finding a fast remedy when your hearing aid starts screeching with feedback or goes silent altogether.

Fortunately, some of the most fundamental hearing aid issues can be alleviated with a few basic troubleshooting measures. figuring out what’s wrong with your hearing aid as fast as possible will get you back to what’s important all the sooner.

Try Changing The Batteries

One of the most common problems with hearing aids is a low battery. Many hearing aids have rechargeable batteries. Other devices are made to have their batteries changed. If you’re going through any of these symptoms, it most likely means the batteries are the reason for your hearing aid problems.

  • Dull sound quality: It feels like somebody is talking to you underwater or from across the room.
  • Hearing aids won’t turn on: If your hearing aid doesn’t turn on, or won’t stay on, there’s a good chance the battery is the main issue.
  • Weak sounds: You’re struggling to hear what’s taking place around you and that seems to be occurring more frequently.

Some solutions:

  • Check twice to make certain the correct batteries are used. Your hearing aid can be damaged by the wrong battery. (At times, the wrong kind of battery can be purchased in the right size, so double-checking is essential.)
  • If you have replaceable batteries, swap them out regularly. You might need to take your hearing aid in to a specialist if the battery is sealed inside.
  • Make sure you have fully charged batteries. Let your rechargeable batteries charge overnight or at least for several hours.

Every Surface Needs to 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 while helping you hear, it’s not surprising that your hearing aid can get a little dirty. Most hearing aid models are designed to deal with a certain amount of earwax buildup, but it’s a practical idea to have a regular cleaning schedule also. Here are some of the issues that can come from too much buildup:

  • Muffled sound: If your hearing aid sounds like it’s lost behind something, it might just be. There could be earwax or other buildup getting in the way.
  • Feedback: It’s possible that earwax buildup can interfere with the feedback canceling functions of your hearing aid, causing you to hear a whining sound.
  • 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.

Some solutions:

  • Check the earwax filter to make sure it is clean; replace it if needed.
  • The tip of your hearing aid can become coated and plugged up by earwax and debris so look for that. The manufacturer will often provide a cleaning tool which can be employed along with the manufacturer’s cleaning instruction.
  • Clean your hearing aid carefully in the way that the manufacturer has recommended.
  • Taking your hearing aid to a professional for regular upkeep is an important procedure.

Try Giving Yourself Some Time

The hearing aid itself isn’t necessarily the issue. When you first put in your hearing aids, your brain needs to get accustomed to hearing the world again. As your mind adjust, you might notice that specific sounds are unpleasantly loud (the hum of the refrigerator, for example). You might also detect that particular consonant sounds may seem overly pronounced.

These are all signs that your brain is racing to catch up to auditory stimuli again and, in time, you’ll adjust.

But it’s worthwhile to get help with any problems before too much time passes. If your hearing aids are not comfortable or you’re experiencing continuous noise issues or things don’t seem to be working just the way they should be, we can help get you back on track and make sure you’re enjoying, not enduring, your hearing aids.

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The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.
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