Have you ever been watching your favorite Netflix movie when your internet suddenly disappears? You sit and watch that spinning circle instead of learning about who won that cooking competition. And so you just wait. Maybe it’s your modem, might be your router, possibly it’s the internet company, or maybe it’ll just fix itself. It sort of stinks.
When technology malfunctions, it can be really aggravating. The same is definitely 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 speak to you.
But your symptoms of hearing loss can suddenly become extremely frustrating when your hearing aids stop working. You’ve been let down 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 start to recognize and troubleshoot those issues.
Hearing aids can often have three common issues
Hearing aids are complex devices. Even still, there are some common issues that people with hearing aids may encounter. Here’s what could be causing those issues (and what you can do to fix them).
Whistling and feedback
Maybe you suddenly begin to hear an awful high-pitched whistling while you’re attempting to have a chat with a friend or family member. Or maybe you notice some feedback. And so you think, “Why am I hearing whistling in my hearing aids? This is strange”.
Whistling and feedback can be caused by these possible problems:
- The tubing that connects the hearing aid with the earmold, on behind-the-ear models, can sometimes become compromised. Try to examine this tubing as well as possible and make sure nothing is loose and the tube doesn’t appear damaged.
- Earwax buildup in your ear canal can undermine how your hearing aid works. You’ll find this comes up fairly often. Whistling and feedback are frequently one result of this sort of earwax buildup. You can try to clean some of the earwax out (never use a cotton swab) and if that fails, you can get some assistance from us.
- Your hearing aids may not be sitting in your ears correctly. Try removing them and putting them back in. You can also try reducing the volume (if this works, you might find some short-term relief, but it also likely means that the fit is indeed not quite right and you should consult us about it).
Depending on the root cause of the feedback, we can help you resolve these problems if you can’t figure them out on your own.
Hearing aids not generating sound
Your hearing aids should make, well, sound. That’s what they’re created to do! So if you find yourself thinking, “I can’t hear any sound in my hearing aid,” well, then something is definitely wrong. So what could be the cause when hearing aids work but no sound comes through? Well, there are a couple of things:
- Your settings: If you have them, cycle through your custom settings. It’s feasible your hearing devices are on the wrong custom setting (so perhaps your hearing aids think you’re in a concert hall instead of around the kitchen table). This incorrect setting could throw off the sound you’re hearing.
- Earwax buildup: Here we go again with the earwax! Examine your device for indications of earwax on the microphone or speakers or any sensitive bits. Keep your device really clean.
- Power: Look, we’ve all forgotten to turn the hearing aids on before. Be sure that isn’t the problem. Then you can cross that of the list of potential problems.
- Batteries: If you have rechargeable batteries, be sure that they are completely charged. And even rechargeable batteries should be switched out on occasion.
If these steps don’t help with your issues, we might have the answers. Whether repair, maintenance, or replacement is your next step, we will be capable of helping you figure that out.
When you have your hearing aids in, your ears hurt
Maybe your hearing aids are fine functionally but they hurt when you put them in. And you’re probably thinking: why do my ears hurt when I use my hearing aids? This sort of discomfort is not exactly conducive to wearing your hearing aids over the long term. So, why do they ache?
- Fit: The most evident issue can be the fit. Needless to say, when the fit is nice and tight, your hearing aids will work best. So when your hearing aids aren’t fitting quite right, there can be some pain. Some hearing aid models can be fit to the particular shape of your ears. The better the fit, the fewer issues you’ll have with pain over the long haul. 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. How long will depend on the person. When you first get your new hearing aids, we can help you get a reasonable concept of the adjustment period you can anticipate. Also, talk to us about any discomfort you may be experiencing.
Bypass problems with a little test drive
Before you commit to a pair 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.
Choosing the correct hearing aids, adjusting them to fit your requirements, and helping with any ongoing problems you may have, are all things we will help with. 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 with an over-the-counter hearing aid!