Have you ever been watching your favorite Netflix movie when your internet abruptly disappears? You sit 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. Maybe it’s your modem, might be your router, possibly it’s the internet provider, or maybe it’ll just fix itself. It’s not a great feeling.
When technology malfunctions, it can be really frustrating. Your hearing aids certainly fall into this category. When they’re working properly, hearing aids can help you remain connected with the ones you love and better hear co-workers when they speak to you.
But your symptoms of hearing loss can suddenly become extremely frustrating when your hearing aids quit working. You’ve been disappointed by the technology you depend on. Why would your hearing aids just stop working? So what can you do? Well, there are three common ways that hearing aids can fail, here’s how you can begin to recognize and troubleshoot those issues.
Hearing aids can often have three common issues
Even though hearing aids are complex technology, people might experience three common problems with them. Let’s take a look at possible causes of these problems and potential fixes.
Whistling and feedback
So, perhaps you’re trying to have a chat with your family or watch your favorite television show and you start to hear a horrific whistling noise. Or maybe you notice a little bit of feedback. And so you think, “Why do I hear whistling in my hearing aids? This is odd”.
Here are three potential problems that could be causing this feedback and whistling:
- The functionality of your hearing aid can be impacted by earwax accumulation in your ear canal. You’ll find this comes up fairly regularly. Whistling and feedback are often one outcome of this kind of earwax accumulation. If possible, you can attempt to clean some earwax out of your ear or consult with us about the best way to do that (do not use a cotton swab).
- Your hearing aids may not be sitting in your ears correctly. Try to take them out and re-seat them. If the fit isn’t right you might need to come see us so we can help you get a better fit.
- 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 closely as you can and make certain nothing is loose and the tube doesn’t appear damaged.
If these issues aren’t easily resolved, it’s worth talking to us about adjusting the fit or sending your device in for servicing (depending on what we determine the underlying cause of that whistling or feedback might be).
No sound coming from your hearing aids
The main purpose of hearing aids is to produce sound. That’s their principal function! So if you find yourself thinking, “I don’t hear any sound in my hearing aid,” well, then something is definitely not right. So what could cause hearing aids to lose all sound? Well, there are a few things:
- Batteries: If you have rechargeable batteries, make certain that they’re completely charged. And even rechargeable batteries should be swapped out on occasion.
- Earwax buildup: Here we go again with the earwax! Take a close look to see if you find any earwax on the speakers or microphone. Keep your device really clean.
- Power: Everybody forgets to turn their hearing aids on once in a while. Check for this first. This possible problem can then be eliminated..
- Your settings: Scroll through the custom settings if your device has them. Your hearing aids may think you’re in a very large space when you’re actually in a little room because the setting isn’t right. This balance could throw off the sound you’re hearing.
If these steps don’t address your problems, we might have the answers. Whether repair, maintenance, or replacement is your next step, we will be able to help you figure that out.
When you have your hearing aids in, your ears hurt
What if your hearing aids work perfectly, but every time you put them in your ears, your ears begin to hurt? And you’re most likely thinking: why do my ears ache when I wear my hearing aids? You’re not as likely to use your hearing aids on a daily basis if they make your ears hurt. So, what could be causing it?
- Fit: The most obvious 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 sometimes be pain involved in a poor fit. Many hearing aids can be personalized to your specific ears. The better the fit, the fewer issues you’ll have with pain over the long run. If you come in for a consultation, 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. How long it takes will depend on the person. When you first get your hearing aids, we can help you get a realistic concept of the adjustment period you can expect. Also, speak with us about any discomfort you may be experiencing.
Bypass issues with a little test drive
Before you commit to a set of hearing aids, it’s a smart idea to test them for a while. Most of the time we will have loaner pairs for you to try out before you make a decision.
Choosing the right hearing aids, adjusting them to fit your needs, and helping with any ongoing problems you might have, are all things we will help with. We will be your resource for any help you need.
And that’s most likely more reliable than your internet company.
