If you’re having hearing difficulties, finally getting a hearing aid is very exciting. A hearing aid is a wonderful tool to help you enjoy everyday activities just as you did before you had any form of hearing loss.
However, there are times when hearing aids do malfunction. It is at these times that you need to know exactly how to troubleshoot your hearing aid and perform minor repairs yourself.
Earwax and Humidity
Some of the most common reasons that your hearing aid may be malfunctioning are earwax and humidity. Earwax will develop over time as you wear your hearing aid. Unfortunately, this is almost inevitable and there’s no special care that you can take to prevent it from happening. Your ears naturally produce wax and if you wear a hearing aid some of it will get into it.
If your hearing aid is exposed to a high level of humidity on a regular basis then damage will occur. Knowing the cause of the damage to your hearing aid is the first step in helping your audiologist identify the kind of repair that may be needed.
Clean Your Hearing Aid Correctly
Before you start cleaning your hearing aid you should check the manual that came with it. All you have to do is look in this manual and follow the steps that have been given for cleaning the hearing aid. Your audiologist may have also given you some tips about the best way to take care of your hearing aid, now is the time to use them.
Cleaning the hearing aid is a critical first step because often your hearing aid does not need professional repair, it may just need a good cleaning, so always try to do it right. Before you do any type of cleaning make sure that you take out the batteries.
Visit a Professional
If after removing earwax and any moisture from your hearing aid it is still not functioning properly you may need professional help. If you have taken the second step of cleaning according to the manufacturer’s instructions and you still are experiencing problems such as static and low sounds, it is time to visit your audiologist.
If you recently brought the hearing aid it may still be under warranty and this means that your repairs will not cost you.
Another thing you should bear in mind is that’s your audiologist may not be able to perform some repairs. They may have to send it back to the manufacturer. Most audiologists will give you a loaner hearing aid until your hearing aid is replaced.
Repair Sooner Rather Than Later
When your hearing aid starts giving you problems it is best to get it fixed as quickly as possible. Problems with hearing aids often get worse over time not better. Delaying the inevitable could mean that you end up paying more for a repair because you waited too long. This the last thing that should happen and it can easily be avoided by being proactive.
