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. And so you just wait. Maybe it’s your modem, could be your router, possibly it’s the internet provider, or possibly it’ll just fix itself. It sort of stinks.
Technology can be tremendously frustrating when it doesn’t work correctly. The same is certainly true of your hearing aids. Most of the time, your hearing aids will provide you with the means to remain connected to loved ones, have conversations with co-workers, and keep up with your neighbors.
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 working? So how do you cope with that? Here are the three prevalent ways your hearing aids can fail and how to diagnose and identify them.
Three common issues with hearing aids (and some possible solutions)
Hearing aids are complex devices. Even still, there are some common problems that people with hearing aids may experience. Here’s what might be causing those issues (and what you can do to correct them).
Feedback and whistling
So, maybe you’re attempting to have a chat with your family or watch your favorite television show and you begin to notice a horrific whistling noise. Or maybe you hear some feedback. You start to think, “this is strange, what’s up with this whistling”?
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 notice this comes up fairly regularly. Whistling and feedback are often one outcome of this kind of earwax buildup. You can attempt to clear some of the earwax out (never use a cotton swab) and if that fails, you can get some assistance from us.
- You might not have your hearing aids seated properly in your ears. Try taking them out and putting them back in. If the fit isn’t correct you may need to come see us so we can help you get a better fit.
- For individuals who use behind-the-ear hearing aids, the tubing that attaches your earmold with your hearing aid might have become compromised. Try to inspect this tubing as closely as possible and make sure nothing is loose and the tube does not appear damaged.
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 should make, well, sound. That’s their principal function! Something has undoubtedly gone wrong if you don’t hear any sound coming from your hearing aid. So what could be the explanation when hearing aids work but no sound comes through? Here are some things to look for:
- Earwax buildup: Here we go again with the earwax! Have a close look to see if you discover any earwax on the microphone or speakers. You want to make sure the device is nice and clean.
- Power: Everyone forgets to turn their hearing aids on once in a while. Make sure that isn’t the problem. Then you can eliminate that as possible problems.
- Your settings: Cycle through the custom settings if your device has them. Your hearing aids may think you’re in a huge room when you’re actually in a small room because the setting isn’t right. The sound you’re hearing might be off as a consequence.
- Batteries: Be sure your batteries are completely charged. And even rechargeable batteries should be swapped out from time to time.
If these steps don’t help with your issues, we might have the answers. We’ll be able to help you determine the next steps, and whether maintenance, repair, or replacement is needed.
When you have your hearing aids in, your ears hurt
What if your hearing aids are working fine, but whenever you put them in your ears, your ears begin to hurt? 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 make your ears hurt. So, why do they ache?
- 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 discomfort involved in a poor fit. Many hearing aids can be customized to your particular ears. The better the fit, the fewer issues you’ll have with pain over the long haul. If you come in for a consultation, we can help you achieve the best fit for your device.
- Time: Sometimes, it just takes some time to get accustomed to your hearing aids. How long it takes will depend on the individual. When you first get your new hearing aids, we can help you get a reasonable idea of the adjustment period you can expect. If uncomfortable ears continue, talk to us about that as well!
Take your new hearing aid out for a test ride
Before you commit to a pair of hearing aids, it’s a smart idea to try them out for a while. In the majority of cases we’ll let you test out a pair of devices before you decide that’s the set for you.
Selecting the right hearing aids, adjusting them to fit your needs, and helping with any extended issues you might have, are all things we will assist with. In other words, when your devices stop 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!