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 an endless spinning circle. All you can do is wait around for it to come back. Is it your internet provider, modem, router, or perhaps it will just come back on its own? It’s not a great feeling.
When technology malfunctions, it can be really frustrating. The same is certainly true of your hearing aids. When they’re functioning correctly, hearing aids can help you stay connected with the ones you love and better hear co-workers when they talk to you.
But your symptoms of hearing loss can suddenly become very frustrating when your hearing aids stop working. The technology you’re depending on has failed you. Why would your hearing aids just quit functioning? So how do you deal with that? Well, there are three common ways that hearing aids can fail, here’s how you can begin to identify and troubleshoot those issues.
Three common issues with hearing aids (and some possible solutions)
Even though hearing aids are sophisticated technology, people might encounter three common problems with them. Here’s what could be causing those issues (and what you can do to correct them).
Feedback and whistling
Perhaps you suddenly start to hear an awful high-pitched whistling while you’re trying to have a conversation with a friend or family member. Or maybe you hear some feedback. You start to think, “this is weird, what’s up with this whistling”?
Feedback and whistling can be caused by these possible problems:
- The tubing that attaches the hearing aid with the earmold, on behind-the-ear models, can occasionally become compromised. Have a close look to identify whether the tube might have detached or may be compromised somehow.
- You might not have your hearing aids correctly positioned in your ears. Try removing them and putting them back in. You can also try reducing the volume (if this works, you may 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).
- The functionality of your hearing aid can be affected by earwax buildup in your ear canal. You’ll find this comes up fairly regularly. 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).
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.
No sound coming from your hearing aids
Your hearing aids are supposed to make, well, sound. That’s what they’re created to do! Something has undoubtedly gone wrong if you don’t hear any sound coming from your hearing aid. So what could cause hearing aids to lose all sound? Well, there are a few things:
- Power: Look, we’ve all forgotten to turn on the hearing aid before. Make sure that’s not the problem. Then you can cross that of the list of potential issues.
- Earwax buildup: Here we go again with the earwax! Examine your device for signs of earwax on the microphone or speakers or any sensitive bits. You want to be sure the device is nice and clean.
- Your settings: Scroll through the personalized settings if your device includes them. It’s possible your hearing devices are not on the right custom setting (so perhaps your hearing aids think you’re in a gymnasium instead of at the kitchen table). The sound you’re hearing might be off as a consequence.
- Batteries: Make certain your batteries are fully charged. And whether your batteries are rechargeable or not, it might be worth swapping them out for fresh ones.
If these steps don’t correct your problems, we may have the answers. We’ll be able to help you identify the next steps, and whether maintenance, repair, or replacement is required.
Painful ears when you’re wearing your hearing aids
What if your hearing aids work perfectly, but every time you put them in your ears, your ears begin to hurt? And you’re likely wondering why your hearing aids would hurt your ears. You’re not as likely to wear your hearing aids on a daily basis if they hurt your ears. So, why do they hurt?
- Fit: The most evident problem 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 customized to your particular ears. Over the long run, you will have fewer problems if you have a snug fit. We will be able to help you get the best possible fit from your devices.
- Time: Getting accustomed to your hearing aids will take a little while. 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. If uncomfortable ears persist, speak with us about that as well!
Take your new hearing aid out for a test ride
One of the best ways to avoid possible issues with hearing aids is to take them out for a bit of a test drive before you commit. In most instances we’ll let you test out a pair of devices before you decide that’s the pair for you.
In fact, we can help you figure out the best kind of hearing aid for your needs, adjust the fit to match your ears, and help you take care of any ongoing 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 with an over-the-counter hearing aid!