Have you ever been watching your favorite Netflix show when your internet suddenly disappears? You sit there and watch that spinning circle instead of finding out who won that cooking competition. And so you just wait. Is it your internet provider, modem, router, or perhaps it will simply come back on its own? It’s not a very good feeling.
When technology breaks down, it can be very frustrating. The same is certainly 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 stop working. You’ve been disappointed by the technology you depend on. How do hearing aids just quit working? So how do you cope with that? Here are the three common ways your hearing aids can fail and how to diagnose and identify them.
Hearing aids can often have three common issues
Even though hearing aids are complex technology, people might experience three common issues with them. Here’s what could be causing those issues (and what you can do to correct them).
Whistling and feedback
Maybe you suddenly begin to hear a terrible high-pitched whistling while you’re trying to have a chat with a friend or family member. Or maybe you notice some feedback. You start to think, “this is strange, what’s up with this whistling”?
Here are three potential problems that could be causing this feedback and whistling:
- The tubing that attaches the hearing aid with the earmold, on behind-the-ear models, can sometimes become compromised. Take a close look to identify whether the tube might have separated or may be damaged in some way.
- The functionality of your hearing aid can be affected by earwax buildup in your ear canal. You’ll find this comes up pretty 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 help from us.
- You might not have your hearing aids seated properly in your ears. Try to take them out and re-seat them. You can also try turning the volume down (if this works, you might find some temporary relief, but it also likely means that the fit isn’t quite right and you should consult us about it).
Depending on the underlying cause of the feedback, we can help you deal with these problems if you can’t figure them out on your own.
Hearing aids not producing sound
The main objective of hearing aids is to generate sound. That’s what they’re made 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 be the explanation when hearing aids work but no sound comes out? Well, there are a few things:
- 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 very clean.
- 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 small room because the setting is wrong. The sound you’re hearing may be off as a consequence.
- Power: Everybody forgets to turn their hearing aids on once in a while. Be sure that isn’t the problem. Then you can eliminate that as possible problems.
- Batteries: Make certain your batteries are fully charged. And even rechargeable batteries should be swapped out once in a while.
We are here for you if these measures don’t clear up your issues. We’ll be able to help you determine the next steps, and whether maintenance, repair, or replacement is needed.
Your ears hurt while 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 wondering why your hearing aids would hurt your ears. This type of discomfort isn’t exactly conducive to wearing your hearing aids on a day-to-day basis. So, what could be causing it?
- Fit: The most evident problem can be the fit. Needless to say, when the fit is nice and tight, your hearing aids will work best. Which means that there can occasionally be discomfort involved in a poor fit. Many hearing aids can be personalized to your specific ears. Over the long run, you will have fewer issues if you have a tight fit. If you come see us, we can help you achieve the best fit for your device.
- Time: Getting used to your hearing aids will take a little while. Each individual will have a different adjustment period. When you first get your hearing aids, we can help you get a reasonable idea of the adjustment period you can anticipate. If uncomfortable ears remain, talk to us about that as well!
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 out for a bit of a test run before you decide. In the majority of instances we’ll let you try out a pair of devices before you determine that’s the set for you.
As a matter of fact, we can help you identify the best type of hearing aid for your requirements, adjust the fit to match your ears, and help you handle any ongoing issues you may have with your devices. In other words, when your devices stop 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!
