Have you ever been watching your favorite Netflix movie when your internet suddenly disappears? Instead of discovering who won the baking show, you have to watch a never-ending spinning circle. All you can do is wait around for it to come back. Is it your internet provider, modem, router, or maybe it will simply come back on its own? It’s not a great feeling.
Technology can be enormously frustrating when it doesn’t work correctly. 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 when they quit working, your hearing loss symptoms can abruptly become much more frustrating. You’ve been disappointed by the technology you depend on. Why would your hearing aids just stop functioning? So what can you do? Here are the three prevalent ways your hearing aids can malfunction and how to diagnose and identify them.
Three common issues with hearing aids (and some possible solutions)
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 problems and potential fixes.
Whistling and feedback
Perhaps you suddenly begin to hear an awful high-pitched whistling while you’re trying to have a chat with a friend or relative. Or perhaps you hear some feedback. You begin to think, “this is weird, what’s up with this whistling”?
Here are three potential issues that could be causing this whistling and feedback:
- The tubing that attaches the hearing aid with the earmold, on behind-the-ear models, can sometimes become compromised. Have a close look to see if the tube might have separated or may be damaged somehow.
- The functionality of your hearing aid can be impacted by earwax buildup in your ear canal. You’ll find this comes up pretty often. Whistling and feedback are frequently one result of this type of earwax buildup. If possible, you can attempt to clean some earwax out of your ear or consult with us about the best method to do that (do not use a cotton swab).
- You may not have your hearing aids seated properly in your ears. Try taking them out and putting them back in. If the fit isn’t right you might need to come see us so we can help you get a better fit.
If these problems aren’t easily resolvable, it’s worth talking to us about correcting the fit or sending your device in for maintenance (depending on what we think the root cause of that whistling or feedback may be).
Hearing aids not producing sound
Your hearing aids are supposed to make, well, sound. That’s their principal function! So if you find yourself thinking, “I can’t hear any sound in my hearing aid,” well, then something is certainly not right. So what could cause hearing aids to drop all sound? Well, there are a couple of things:
- Earwax buildup: Yup, earwax strikes again. Examine your device for indications of earwax on the microphone or speakers or any sensitive bits. You want to be sure the device is good and clean.
- Your settings: Scroll through the personalized settings if your device includes them. Your hearing aids might think you’re in a very large space when you’re actually in a little room because the setting isn’t right. The sound you’re hearing may be off as a result.
- Power: Everybody forgets to turn their hearing aids on once in a while. Check for this first. Then you can cross that of the list of possible problems.
- Batteries: If you have rechargeable batteries, be sure that they are fully charged. And even rechargeable batteries should be swapped out on occasion.
If these steps don’t correct your problems, we may have the solution. Whether repair, maintenance, or replacement is your next step, we will be able to help you figure that out.
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 begin hurting? And you’re most likely wondering why your hearing aids would hurt your ears. You’re not as likely to use your hearing aids every day if they hurt your ears. So, why do they ache?
- Fit: The fit of the device is the most evident issue. Naturally, when the fit is nice and snug, your hearing aids will work best. So when your hearing aids aren’t fitting quite right, there can be some discomfort. Many hearing aids can be personalized to your particular ears. The better the fit, the fewer problems you’ll have with pain over the long run. We will be able to help you achieve the best possible fit from your devices.
- Time: Usually, it just takes a little while to get used to your hearing aids. Each person 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 expect. If uncomfortable ears remain, speak with us about that as well!
Take your new hearing aid out for a test ride
Before you commit to a set of hearing aids, it’s a good plan to try them out for a while. In the majority of instances we’ll let you test out a set of devices before you determine that’s the set for you.
Selecting the right hearing aids, adjusting them to fit your requirements, and helping with any extended problems you might have, are all things we will assist with. We will be your resource for any assistance you need.
And that’s most likely more reliable than your internet company.