Have you ever been watching your favorite Netflix show when your internet abruptly disappears? You sit there and watch that spinning circle instead of learning about who won that cooking competition. All you can do is wait around for it to come back. Perhaps it’s your modem, might be your router, possibly it’s the internet company, or maybe it’ll just fix itself. It’s not a very good feeling.
When technology malfunctions, it can be very frustrating. The same is definitely true of your hearing aids. Most of the time, your hearing aids will give you the means to stay connected to loved ones, have discussions with co-workers, and keep up with your neighbors.
But your symptoms of hearing loss can suddenly become very frustrating when your hearing aids quit working. You’ve been disappointed by the technology you depend on. How do hearing aids just quit working? So what can you do? Here are the three common ways your hearing aids can malfunction and how to troubleshoot and identify them.
Three common issues with hearing aids (and some possible solutions)
Hearing aids are complex devices. Even still, there are some common problems that people with hearing aids might experience. Let’s have a look at possible causes of these problems and potential fixes.
Feedback and whistling
So, maybe you’re trying to have a chat with your family or watch your favorite show and you begin to notice a horrific whistling noise. Or perhaps you notice a little bit of feedback. And so you think, “Why am I hearing whistling in my hearing aids? This is strange”.
Here are three potential problems that could be causing this whistling and feedback:
- You may not have your hearing aids correctly positioned in your ears. Try taking them out and putting them back in. If the fit isn’t correct you might need to come see us so we can help you get a better fit.
- Earwax buildup in your ear canal can compromise how your hearing aid works. This is a relatively common one. That includes making your hearing aid whistle or feedback. If possible, you can try clearing some earwax out of your ear or talk to us about the best way to do that (do not use a cotton swab).
- The tubing that attaches the hearing aid with the earmold, on behind-the-ear models, can occasionally 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.
Depending on the underlying 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 goal of hearing aids is to produce sound. That’s their principal function! Something has undoubtedly gone wrong if you can’t hear any sound coming out of your hearing aid. So what could be the cause when hearing aids work but no sound comes through? Here are a few things to watch for:
- Your settings: Cycle through the personalized settings if your device has them. Your hearing aids may think you’re in a very large space when you’re actually in a small room because the setting is wrong. This incorrect setting could throw off the sound you’re hearing.
- Earwax buildup: Here we go again with the earwax! Inspect your device for signs of earwax on the microphone or speakers or any sensitive bits. Keep your device very clean.
- Power: Everybody forgets to turn their hearing aids on once in a while. Check for this first. Then you can eliminate that as possible problems.
- Batteries: Make sure your batteries are fully charged. And even rechargeable batteries should be swapped out from time to time.
If these steps don’t address your issues, we may 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
What if your hearing aids work perfectly, but every time you put them in your ears, your ears start to hurt? And you’re probably thinking: why do my ears ache when I wear my hearing aids? This kind of discomfort is not exactly conducive to wearing your hearing aids over the long term. So, what could be causing it?
- Time: Usually, it just takes a little while to get used to your hearing aids. How long will depend on the individual. When you first get your new hearing aids, we can help you get a realistic idea of the adjustment period you can expect. Also, speak with us about any discomfort you might be experiencing.
- Fit: The fit of the device is the most obvious problem. After all, most hearing aids work best when they fit tightly. So when your hearing aids aren’t fitting very well, there can be some discomfort. Many hearing aids can be customized to your specific ears. The better the fit, the fewer issues you’ll have with pain over the long haul. If you come see us, we can help you get the best fit for your device.
Take your new hearing aid out for a test ride
One of the best ways to avoid possible problems with hearing aids is to take them for a bit of a test drive before you decide. In most cases we’ll let you test out a pair of devices before you decide that’s the set for you.
As a matter of fact, we can help you determine the best kind of hearing aid for your needs, adjust the fit to match your ears, and help you handle any extended issues 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!
