DIY Troubleshooting: Addressing Minor Hearing Aid Problems

If you wear a hearing aid, you will might be aware that it requires attention and care in order to keep it in pristine condition. Because of that, it’s essential that you know how to maintain your hearing aids. And a big part of this is making sure you know how to deal with any issues that could potentially arise. Let’s take a look now at some of possible problems and discuss what you can do about them and how an audiologist can help if you are experiencing issues you cannot fix.

Distorted Sound

One of the most common hearing aid problems individuals may experience is when your hearing aids are producing distorted sound. If you are experiencing distorted sound the first thing you want to do is check the volume settings to ensure they’re not too high. Next, inspect the earmold or dome for wax buildup, as this can also affect sound quality. Additionally, try replacing the batteries, as low battery power can lead to distorted sound. If these steps don’t resolve the issue, contact your audiologist for further assistance.

Feedback

This is when the hearing aids are producing a sound they have caused, and it is often a noise that is producing unwanted sounds. Often, this problem can be solved by taking your hearing aids out and reinserting them, as they might simply not have been inserted properly. If that doesn’t solve it, try turning down your device’s volume. If the problem persists still, you should contact your audiologist as they will inspect your device for any damage. It might be that they need to re-fit your hearing aids, which should then solve the issue altogether.

No Sound

Ensuring your hearing aids produce sound involves several troubleshooting steps. First, make sure the power switch is turned on; it’s easy to forget this step, especially since inserting the hearing aid can sometimes trigger the switch accidentally. Next, check the battery to ensure its properly installed and not loose. Also, double-check the volume settings, as they might accidentally be set too low, similar to adjusting volume on a radio or TV. Lastly, ensure your hearing aids are clean, as dust or earwax buildup can block the receiver tube or microphone, causing sound issues. Cleaning according to the manufacturer’s instructions or seeking help from your audiologist can fix this problem.

Too Quiet

Perhaps your hearing aids are simply too quiet. If this is the case, the first step is of course to try turning them up on the volume. Or you might need to try taking them out and putting them back in again. At times, the problem can actually be that your hearing loss has progressed, so that you need a new hearing aid or alternative treatment. So, it’s worth checking in with your audiologist just to make sure, especially if you can’t hear much with your hearing aid no matter what you do. With your audiologist’s help, you should be able to hear again soon enough.