Have you ever been watching your favorite Netflix movie when your internet abruptly cuts out? You sit 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 provider, or possibly it’ll just fix itself. It’s not a great feeling.
Technology can be enormously frustrating when it doesn’t work correctly. Your hearing aids certainly fall into this category. The majority of the time, your hearing aids will provide you with 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 really frustrating when your hearing aids quit working. The technology you’re depending on has let you down. Why would your hearing aids just quit functioning? So how do you deal with that? Well, there are three prevalent ways that hearing aids can malfunction, here’s how you can begin to recognize and troubleshoot those problems.
Hearing aids can often have three common issues
Even though hearing aids are sophisticated technology, people may encounter three common issues with them. Let’s take a look at possible causes of these issues and potential fixes.
Whistling and feedback
Perhaps you suddenly begin to hear a terrible high-pitched whistling while you’re attempting to have a conversation with a friend or family member. Or perhaps you detect a bit of feedback. You start to think, “this is strange, what’s up with this whistling”?
Whistling and feedback can be caused by these possible issues:
- You might not have your hearing aids correctly positioned in your ears. Try to remove them and re-seat them. You can also try turning the volume down (if this works, you may find some temporary relief, but it also likely means that the fit is indeed not quite right and you should talk to us about it).
- The tubing that attaches the hearing aid with the earmold, on behind-the-ear models, can occasionally become compromised. Take a close look to identify whether the tube may have detached or might be compromised somehow.
- The functionality of your hearing aid can be impacted by earwax buildup in your ear canal. This is a relatively common one. That includes causing your hearing aids to whistle or feedback. If possible, you can attempt to clean some earwax out of your ear or consult with us about the best way to do that (don’t use a cotton swab).
If these problems aren’t easily resolvable, it’s worth consulting with us about adjusting the fit or sending your device in for maintenance (depending on what we think the root cause of that whistling or feedback may be).
No sound coming from your hearing aids
The main purpose of hearing aids is to produce sound. That’s what they’re created to do! So if you find yourself thinking, “I don’t hear any sound coming from my hearing aid,” well, then something is certainly wrong. So what could cause hearing aids to lose all sound? Well, there are a few things:
- Your settings: Scroll through the personalized settings if your device includes them. 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. The sound you’re hearing could be off as a consequence.
- 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. You want to make sure the device is nice and clean.
- Power: Look, we’ve all forgotten to turn on the hearing aid before. Check for this first. This potential issue can then be eliminated..
- Batteries: If you have rechargeable batteries, be sure that they’re completely charged. And even rechargeable batteries should be switched out from time to time.
We are here for you if these steps don’t clear up your issues. We’ll be able to help you identify the next steps, and whether maintenance, repair, or replacement is needed.
Painful ears when you’re wearing your hearing aids
What if your hearing aids work perfectly, but whenever you put them in your ears, your ears start hurting? And you’re likely thinking: why do my ears ache when I use my hearing aids? You’re not as likely to use your hearing aids on a daily basis if they hurt your ears. So, what could be causing it?
- Time: Getting accustomed to your hearing aids will take some time. Each person will have a different adjustment period. It’s worth talking about when you purchase your hearing aids so you have a realistic concept of how long it may take you to get comfortable with your devices. If uncomfortable ears persist, talk to us about that too!
- Fit: The most obvious issue can be the fit. After all, the majority of hearing aids work best when they fit tightly. Which means that there can occasionally be pain involved in a poor fit. Many hearing aids can be personalized to your particular ears. Over the long haul, you will have fewer problems if you have a tight fit. We will be able to help you achieve the best possible fit from your devices.
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 for a bit of a test run before you commit. Most of the time we will have loaner pairs for you to try out before you make a decision.
Selecting the right hearing aids, adjusting them to fit your needs, and helping with any extended problems you may have, are all things we will assist with. We will be your resource for any assistance you need.
And that’s a lot more than you will get with an over-the-counter hearing aid!