Have you ever had your internet disappear just as you’re almost to the best part of your favorite Netflix show? You sit and watch that spinning circle instead of learning about who won that cooking competition. And so you just wait. Is it your internet provider, modem, router, or perhaps it will simply come back on its own? It’s not a great feeling.
When technology breaks down, it can be very aggravating. The same is certainly true of your hearing aids. Most of the time, your hearing aids will give you the means to remain 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. How do hearing aids just stop working? So what should you do? Here are the three prevalent ways your hearing aids can fail and how to troubleshoot and identify them.
Hearing aids can often have three common issues
Hearing aids are complex devices. Even still, there are some common problems that people with hearing aids may experience. 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 an awful high-pitched whistling while you’re attempting to have a conversation with a friend or relative. Or perhaps you notice some feedback. You start to think, “this is strange, what’s up with this whistling”?
Here are three potential issues that could be causing this feedback and whistling:
- Your hearing aids might not be seated in your ears correctly. Try to remove them and re-seat them. If the fit isn’t right you may need to come see us so we can help you get a better fit.
- For people who wear behind-the-ear hearing aids, the tubing that attaches your earmold with your hearing aid might have become compromised. Take a close look to see if the tube may have separated or may be damaged somehow.
- Earwax buildup in your ear canal can undermine the way your hearing aid works. You’ll notice this comes up fairly often. Whistling and feedback are often one result of this type of earwax buildup. You can attempt to clear some of the earwax out (never use a cotton swab) and if that fails, you can get some assistance from us.
If these problems aren’t easily resolved, it’s worth consulting with us about adjusting the fit or sending your device in for servicing (depending on what we think the underlying cause of that whistling or feedback may be).
Hearing aids not producing sound
Your hearing aids are supposed to make, well, sound. That’s their main function! So if you find yourself thinking, “I don’t hear any sound in my hearing aid,” well, then something is certainly not right. So what could be the cause when hearing aids work but no sound comes through? Well, there are a couple of things:
- Your settings: Scroll through the personalized settings if your device includes them. Your hearing aids may think you’re in a huge room when you’re actually in a little room because the setting is wrong. The sound you’re hearing may be off as a consequence.
- Batteries: If you have rechargeable batteries, be sure that they are fully charged. And whether your batteries are rechargeable or not, it might be worth swapping them out for new ones.
- Power: Everybody forgets to turn their hearing aids on once in a while. Check for this first. Then you can eliminate that as potential issues.
- Earwax buildup: Yup, earwax strikes again. Inspect your device for signs of earwax on the microphone or speakers or any sensitive parts. Keep your device really clean.
We are here for you if these measures don’t clear your issues up. We’ll be able to help you find out the next steps, and whether maintenance, repair, or replacement is needed.
When you have your hearing aids in, you feel pain in your ears
What if your hearing aids work perfectly, but every time you put them in your ears, your ears begin hurting? And you’re likely thinking: why do my ears hurt when I wear 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?
- Fit: The most obvious issue can be the fit. Naturally, when the fit is nice and snug, your hearing aids will work best. So when your hearing aids aren’t fitting very well, there can be some discomfort. Some models of hearing aid can be fit to the particular shape of your ears. Over the long run, you will have fewer issues if you have a good fit. We will be able to help you get the best possible fit from your devices.
- Time: Sometimes, it just takes some time to get used to your hearing aids. Each person will have a different adjustment period. When you first get your hearing aids, we can help you get a realistic concept of the adjustment period you can anticipate. If uncomfortable ears continue, talk to us about that too!
Take your new hearing aid out for a test ride
One of the best ways to prevent possible problems with hearing aids is to take them out for a bit of a test drive before you decide. Most of the time we will have loaner pairs for you to try out before you make a decision.
Choosing the correct hearing aids, adjusting them to fit your requirements, and helping with any ongoing issues you may have, are all things we will assist with. In other words, when your devices stop working, you’ll have a resource that can help!
And that’s a lot more than you will get from an over-the-counter hearing aid!
