Have you ever been watching your favorite Netflix movie when your internet suddenly cuts out? 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. Is it your internet provider, modem, router, or maybe it will just come back on its own? It sort of stinks.
Technology can be enormously frustrating when it doesn’t work properly. The same is definitely 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 when they stop working, your hearing loss symptoms can abruptly become much more frustrating. You’ve been disappointed by the technology you count on. Why would your hearing aids just stop functioning? So how do you deal with that? Here are the three common ways your hearing aids can fail and how to troubleshoot and identify them.
Hearing aids can often have three common issues
Even though hearing aids are sophisticated technology, individuals might encounter three common issues with them. Let’s have 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 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”?
Whistling and feedback can be caused by these possible problems:
- The tubing that connects the hearing aid with the earmold, on behind-the-ear models, can sometimes become compromised. Try to inspect this tubing as well as possible and make certain nothing is loose and the tube does not appear damaged.
- You might not have your hearing aids correctly positioned in your ears. Try taking them out and putting them back in. You can also try reducing the volume (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 speak with us about it).
- Earwax buildup in your ear canal can compromise the way your hearing aid functions. You’ll find this comes up pretty often. Whistling and feedback are frequently one result of this kind of earwax buildup. You can attempt 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.
If these problems aren’t easily resolved, it’s worth talking to us about correcting the fit or sending your device in for servicing (depending on what we think the underlying cause of that whistling or feedback might be).
Hearing aids not generating sound
Your hearing aids should make, well, sound. That’s their main function! 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? Here are a few things to look for:
- Your settings: Scroll through the personalized settings if your device has them. It’s feasible your hearing devices are not on the right custom program (so maybe your hearing aids think you’re in a gymnasium instead of at the kitchen table). The sound you’re hearing may be off as a result.
- Batteries: If you have rechargeable batteries, make certain that they are fully charged. And whether your batteries are rechargeable or not, it may be worth switching them out for new ones.
- Earwax buildup: Yup, earwax strikes again. Take a close look to see if you discover any earwax on the speakers or microphone. You want to be sure the device is nice and clean.
- Power: Look, we’ve all forgotten to turn on the hearing aid before. Make certain that isn’t the problem. Then you can eliminate that as possible issues.
We’re here for you if these steps don’t clear your issues up. Whether repair, maintenance, or replacement is your next step, we will be capable of helping you figure that out.
Painful ears while you’re wearing your hearing aids
Perhaps your hearing aids are fine functionally but they hurt when they’re in your ears. And you’re most likely wondering why your hearing aids would hurt your ears. This sort of discomfort isn’t exactly conducive to using your hearing aids over the long term. So, what could be causing it?
- Fit: The most evident issue can be the fit. Needless to say, when the fit is nice and snug, your hearing aids will work best. Which means that there can sometimes be discomfort involved in a poor fit. Many hearing aids can be personalized to your specific ears. Over the long haul, you will have fewer issues if you have a snug fit. If you come see us, we can help you get the best fit for your device.
- Time: Sometimes, 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 new hearing aids, we can help you get a reasonable concept of the adjustment period you can expect. Also, talk to us about any discomfort you may be having.
Bypass problems with a little test drive
Before you decide on a set of hearing aids, it’s a good plan to test them for a while. In the majority of cases we’ll let you test out a set of devices before you determine that’s the pair for you.
Selecting the correct hearing aids, adjusting them to fit your requirements, and helping with any ongoing issues you might have, are all things we will help with. We will be your resource for any assistance you need.
And that’s probably more reliable than your internet company.