Have you ever been watching your favorite Netflix movie when your internet suddenly cuts out? Instead of discovering who won the baking show, you have to watch a never-ending spinning circle. And so you just wait. Is it your internet provider, modem, router, or maybe it will just come back on its own? It’s not a very good feeling.
Technology can be enormously frustrating when it doesn’t work correctly. The same is certainly true of your hearing aids. When they’re working correctly, hearing aids can help you remain connected with the ones you love and better hear co-workers when they talk to you.
But your symptoms of hearing loss can suddenly become really frustrating when your hearing aids stop working. You’ve been disappointed by the technology you depend on. How do hearing aids just stop working? So how do you cope with that? Well, there are three prevalent ways that hearing aids can malfunction, here’s how you can begin to identify and troubleshoot those issues.
Three common issues with hearing aids (and some possible solutions)
Even though hearing aids are sophisticated technology, people may experience three common issues with them. Let’s take a look at possible causes of these problems and potential fixes.
Whistling and feedback
So, maybe you’re attempting to have a chat with your family or watch your favorite show and you begin to hear a dreadful whistling noise. Or maybe you detect a little bit of feedback. You begin 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 may not be seated in your ears properly. Try removing them and putting them back in. If the fit isn’t correct you might need to come in so we can help you get a better fit.
- Earwax buildup in your ear canal can compromise the way your hearing aid works. You’ll notice this comes up fairly regularly. That includes causing your hearing aids to whistle or feedback. You can try to clean some of the earwax out (never use a cotton swab) and if that doesn’t work out, you can get some assistance from us.
- For people who wear behind-the-ear hearing aids, the tubing that attaches your earmold with your hearing aid may have become compromised. Try to examine this tubing as well as you can and make certain nothing is loose and the tube doesn’t appear damaged.
If these problems aren’t easily resolvable, it’s worth speaking 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 should make, well, sound. That’s their primary function! Something has certainly gone wrong if you can’t hear any sound coming out of your hearing aid. So what could cause hearing aids to drop all sound? Well, there are a few things:
- Your settings: If you have them, flip through your custom settings. Your hearing aids may think you’re in a very large space when you’re actually in a little room because the setting is wrong. This incorrect setting could throw off the sound you’re hearing.
- Earwax buildup: Yup, earwax strikes again. Take a close look to see if you find any earwax on the microphone or speakers. Keep your device really clean.
- Power: Everyone forgets to turn their hearing aids on once in a while. Check for this first. This potential problem can then be eliminated..
- Batteries: Make certain your batteries are completely charged. And whether your batteries are rechargeable or not, it may be worth swapping them out for fresh ones.
We’re here for you if these steps don’t clear up your issues. We’ll be able to help you find out the next steps, and whether maintenance, repair, or replacement is required.
When you have your hearing aids in, your ears hurt
What if your hearing aids are working fine, but whenever you put them in your ears, your ears start to hurt? And you’re likely thinking: why do my ears hurt when I wear my hearing aids? This type of discomfort isn’t exactly conducive to using your hearing aids over the long term. So, what could be causing it?
- Fit: The fit of the device is the most obvious issue. Naturally, when the fit is nice and snug, your hearing aids will work best. Which means that there can sometimes be pain involved in a poor fit. Some models of hearing aid can be fit to the specific shape of your ears. The better the fit, the fewer problems you’ll have with discomfort over the long run. We will be able to help you achieve the best possible fit from your devices.
- Time: Getting accustomed to your hearing aids will take a little while. How long will depend on the person. It’s worth talking about when you purchase your hearing aids so you have a reasonable idea of how long it might take you to become comfortable with your devices. Also, speak with us about any discomfort you may be experiencing.
Bypass issues with a little test drive
One of the best ways to avoid possible issues with hearing aids is to take them out for a bit of a test run before you decide. In most cases we’ll let you test out a pair of devices before you determine that’s the pair for you.
In fact, we can help you determine the best type of hearing aid for your requirements, adjust the fit to match your ears, and help you manage any ongoing problems you might 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 from an over-the-counter hearing aid!