Have you ever been watching your favorite Netflix movie when your internet suddenly disappears? Instead of finding out who won the baking show, you have to watch a never-ending spinning circle. All you can do is wait around for it to come back. Maybe it’s your modem, could be your router, possibly it’s the internet company, or possibly it’ll just fix itself. It sort of stinks.
When technology malfunctions, it can be very aggravating. The same is certainly true of your hearing aids. When they’re functioning correctly, hearing aids can help you remain connected with the ones you love and better hear co-workers when they speak to you.
But your symptoms of hearing loss can suddenly become really frustrating when your hearing aids quit working. You’ve been let down by the technology you depend on. How do hearing aids just stop working? So what should you do? Well, there are three prevalent ways that hearing aids can fail, here’s how you can begin to identify and troubleshoot those problems.
Three common issues with hearing aids (and some possible solutions)
Hearing aids are sophisticated devices. Even still, there are some common issues that individuals with hearing aids may experience. Let’s take a look at possible causes of these issues and potential fixes.
Feedback and whistling
Perhaps you suddenly start to hear a terrible high-pitched whistling while you’re trying to have a chat with a friend or relative. Or maybe you hear some feedback. You begin to think, “this is strange, what’s up with this whistling”?
Here are three potential issues that could be causing this whistling and feedback:
- 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 inspect this tubing as closely as possible and make certain nothing is loose and the tube does not appear damaged.
- Your hearing aids may not be sitting in your ears correctly. Try to take them out and re-seat them. You can also try reducing the volume (if this works, you may find some temporary relief, but it also likely means that the fit isn’t quite right and you should talk to us about it).
- The functionality of your hearing aid can be affected by earwax accumulation in your ear canal. You’ll find this comes up pretty often. That includes making your hearing aid whistle or feedback. If possible, you can try clearing some earwax out of your ear or consult with us about the best way to do that (do not use a cotton swab).
Depending on the root cause of the feedback, we can help you resolve these issues if you can’t figure them out on your own.
No sound coming from your hearing aids
The main objective of hearing aids is to produce sound. That’s what they’re made to do! So if you find yourself thinking, “I can’t hear any sound coming from my hearing aid,” well, then something is certainly not right. So what could cause hearing aids to lose all sound? Well, there are a few things:
- Batteries: Make sure your batteries are completely charged. And even rechargeable batteries should be swapped out once in a while.
- Your settings: If you have them, flip through your custom settings. Your hearing aids might think you’re in a huge space when you’re actually in a little room because the setting isn’t right. This incorrect setting could throw off the sound you’re hearing.
- Power: Look, we’ve all disregarded turning the hearing aids on before. Be sure that isn’t the problem. Then you can cross that of the list of potential problems.
- Earwax buildup: Here we go again with the earwax! Take a close look to see if you come across any earwax on the speakers or microphone. Keep your device very clean.
If these steps don’t address your problems, we may have the answers. We’ll be able to help you identify the next steps, and whether maintenance, repair, or replacement is needed.
Painful ears when you’re wearing your hearing aids
What if your hearing aids are working fine, but whenever you put them in your ears, your ears begin to hurt? And you’re probably thinking: why do my ears hurt when I use my hearing aids? You’re not as likely to wear your hearing aids on a daily basis if they hurt your ears. So, what could be causing it?
- Time: Getting accustomed to your hearing aids will take some time. How long will depend on the person. It’s worth talking about when you buy your hearing aids so you have a reasonable concept of how long it might take you to become comfortable with your devices. If uncomfortable ears remain, speak with us about that as well!
- Fit: The fit of the device is the most evident problem. Naturally, when the fit is nice and tight, your hearing aids will work best. So when your hearing aids aren’t fitting very well, there can be some discomfort. Many hearing aids can be customized to your particular ears. Over the long haul, you will have fewer problems if you have a snug fit. If you come see us, we can help you achieve the best fit for your device.
Take your new hearing aid out for a test ride
Before you commit to a set of hearing aids, it’s a good plan to test them for a while. Most of the time we will have loaner pairs for you to try out before you make a decision.
Selecting the correct hearing aids, adjusting them to fit your needs, and helping with any ongoing problems you might have, are all things we will assist with. We will be your resource for any assistance you need.
And that’s a lot more than you will get with an over-the-counter hearing aid!