Have you ever had your internet cut right as you’re almost to the best part of your favorite Netflix show? You sit and watch that spinning circle instead of finding out who won that cooking competition. All you can do is wait around for it to come back. Perhaps it’s your modem, might be your router, possibly it’s the internet company, or possibly it’ll just fix itself. It sort of stinks.
Technology can be enormously aggravating when it doesn’t work properly. The same is certainly true of your hearing aids. Most of the time, your hearing aids will give you the means to stay connected to loved ones, have discussions with co-workers, and keep up with your neighbors.
But your symptoms of hearing loss can suddenly become really frustrating when your hearing aids quit working. You’ve been disappointed by the technology you count on. Why would your hearing aids just stop functioning? So what can you do? Here are the three prevalent ways your hearing aids can malfunction and how to troubleshoot and identify them.
Hearing aids can often have three common issues
Even though hearing aids are complex technology, individuals may encounter three common issues with them. Here’s what might be causing those issues (and what you can do to correct them).
Whistling and feedback
Maybe you suddenly begin to hear a terrible high-pitched whistling while you’re trying to have a conversation with a friend or family member. Or maybe you hear some feedback. You start to think, “this is weird, what’s up with this whistling”?
Here are three potential problems that could be causing this feedback and whistling:
- For those who use behind-the-ear hearing aids, the tubing that connects your earmold with your hearing aid may have become compromised. Try to examine this tubing as well as possible and make sure nothing is loose and the tube does not appear damaged.
- The functionality of your hearing aid can be affected by earwax buildup in your ear canal. You’ll find this comes up fairly regularly. Whistling and feedback are frequently one outcome of this sort of earwax accumulation. If possible, you can attempt to clean some earwax out of your ear or consult with us about the best method to do that (do not use a cotton swab).
- Your hearing aids might not be seated in your ears properly. Try to take them out and re-seat them. You can also try turning the volume down (if this works, you may find some short-term relief, but it also likely means that the fit isn’t quite right and you should speak with us about it).
Depending on the underlying cause of the feedback, we can help you resolve these problems if you can’t fix them on your own.
No sound coming from your hearing aids
The main goal of hearing aids is to produce sound. That’s what they’re made to do! Something has undoubtedly gone wrong if you don’t hear any sound coming out of your hearing aid. So what could be the cause when hearing aids work but no sound comes through? Here are several things to look for:
- Power: Everyone forgets to turn their hearing aids on once in a while. Check for this first. This potential issue can then be eliminated..
- Earwax buildup: Yup, earwax strikes again. Take a close look to see if you discover any earwax on the speakers or microphone. You want to make certain the device is good and clean.
- Batteries: If you have rechargeable batteries, make sure that they’re completely charged. And whether your batteries are rechargeable or not, it might be worth switching them out for fresh ones.
- Your settings: Cycle through the personalized settings if your device has them. Your hearing aids might think you’re in a huge space when you’re actually in a small room because the setting isn’t right. This balance could throw off the sound you’re hearing.
We’re here for you if these steps don’t clear your issues up. We’ll be able to help you identify the next steps, and whether maintenance, repair, or replacement is required.
Your ears hurt while you’re wearing your hearing aids
Perhaps your hearing aids are fine functionally but they hurt when you put them in. And you’re most likely thinking: why do my ears hurt when I use my hearing aids? You’re not as likely to wear your hearing aids every day if they hurt your ears. So, what could be causing it?
- Time: Usually, it just takes a little while to get used to your hearing aids. Each person will have a different adjustment period. When you first get your new hearing aids, we can help you get a realistic concept of the adjustment period you can expect. If uncomfortable ears persist, speak with us about that too!
- Fit: The fit of the device is the most evident issue. After all, the majority of hearing aids work best when the fit is nice and snug. Which means that there can occasionally be pain involved in a poor fit. Some models of hearing aid can be fit to the distinct shape of your ears. Over the long run, you will have fewer problems if you have a snug fit. We will be able to help you get the best possible fit from your devices.
Avoid issues with a little test drive
Before you decide on a set of hearing aids, it’s a smart idea to try them out for a while. In most instances we’ll let you try out a pair of devices before you determine that’s the pair for you.
In fact, we can help you ascertain the best type of hearing aid for your needs, adjust the fit to match your ears, and help you handle any extended problems you may have with your devices. In other words, when your devices quit working, you’ll have a resource that can help!
And that’s a lot more than you will get with an over-the-counter hearing aid!
