Hearing Aid Repair and Services in Princeton and Monroe, NJ
Located in the Central New Jersey area, and serving the communities of Princeton, Monroe, Plainsboro and other nearby cities, Princeton Otolaryngology Associates specializes in audiology. If you live in New Jersey and need your hearing aid repaired or serviced, our audiologists, Karen K. Herring, M.S., FAAA and Dr. Rajool Dave, Au. D, FAAA, will help determine the issue and offer a helpful solution.
Hearing aids do not come with a lifetime guarantee. Like anything else used daily, there is the expected wear and tear. Instead of jumping to replace a damaged hearing aid, there are some common hearing aid repairs you can try first.
Common Hearing Aid Repairs
When you read the word “repair,” do not automatically think hearing aid repair shop. It is very possible to troubleshoot or repair your hearing aid on your own if the problem is not too complex. The chart below lists symptoms and the common hearing aid fixes you can try right now at home.
| SYMPTOM | CAUSE | POSSIBLE CURE |
|---|---|---|
| Dead | Dead battery inserted improperly | Change battery position |
| Not turned on | Turn hearing aid on/close battery door | |
| Dead battery | Replace the battery | |
| Low battery | Replace the battery | |
| Blocked ear mold tubing or canal | Clear ear mold blockage | |
| Water in tubing | Clear blockage | |
| Clogged wax trap | Change wax trap | |
| Aid is set to mute or telecoil | Change hearing aid setting/program | |
| Not Loud Enough | Clogged wax trap | Change wax trap |
| Plugged Ear mold | Clean ear mold | |
| Water in tubing | Clear tubing blockage or use DRI-AID KIT | |
| Excessive ear wax | See physician to clean ears | |
| Weak amplifier | See Audiologist | |
| Dome clogged with wax or debris | Clean or change dome | |
| Intermittent (Turns off and on) | Moisture in tubing circuitry | Use DRI AID KIT or Forced Air Blower |
| Battery contacts dirty | See audiologist | |
| Loose electrical connection | See audiologist | |
| Wax trap is clogged | Change wax trap | |
| Feedback (Whistles) | Old tubing – yellow, hardened | See audiologist to change tubing |
| Broken tubing | See audiologist to change tubing | |
| Frying Noise | Battery is low | Replace the battery |
| Poor battery contacts | See audiologist | |
| Bad hearing aid component | See audiologist | |
| Hearing aid in telecoil program | Change program | |
| Not Clear (Distorted) | Battery contacts are corroded | See audiologist |
| Low battery | Change battery | |
| Ear mold fits poorly | Replace ear mold | |
| Moisture in ear mold/tubing | Use Forced Air Blower or DRI-AID KIT | |
| Volume is too high | Lower volume | |
| Electronic Beeping | Low battery indicator | Change Battery Feedback (see above) |
If after trying all suggested repairs your hearing aid still will not work, contact us to schedule an evaluation and to find out the other options for your hearing aid repair.
How Much Do Hearing Aid Repairs Cost?
The cost of repairing a hearing aid can vary depending on the extent of damage and whether or not it is still under warranty. The basic repairs consist of repairing and replacing broken items and of cleaning and testing the equipment. In some cases, when the hearing aid is older or more severely damaged repairs could include: faceplate, recasting or circuit board, and these types of repairs are likely to cost more. Once a hearing aid is over five years old, repairs become more costly.
When your Hearing Aid is Beyond Repair
Hearing aids are not meant to last forever and like a car that has accrued enough damage, they can be totaled. Once a hearing aid is considered totaled, it makes more financial and functional sense to replace it with a new model.
Only an expert can offer the proper diagnosis on a damaged hearing aid, but there are signs you can look for to determine if your hearing aid is beyond repair:
- Your hearing aid is five or more years old.
Unlike a car, most people need to replace their hearing aids after about five years of use. Around this time, if you keep experiencing problems with the device, it may be time to start looking for a new one. - The damage is visible—and looks extensive.
Even if less than five years old, there is likely no fix for hearing aids that have been smashed or damaged in a way that seems unfixable. - Your hearing aid has been repaired several times in the past.
Continually taking your hearing aid in to be repaired will cost time and money, and it is likely that these repairs will not be a permanent solution. It will cost more upfront to purchase a new device, but the cost will balance out when you are saved the annoyance and continual expense of repairing your hearing aid.
The specialists at Princeton Otolaryngology Associates are able to diagnose or repair the problem for all makes and models of hearing aids. If you are having problems or think that your hearing aid is beyond repair, bring it in and we’d be happy to offer a solution. Contact us today or stop by to schedule an appointment and find out what options are available to fix your broken hearing aid. Our practice serves patients throughout the neighboring communities of Princeton, Monroe and Plainsboro.
