4 Signs You Need Hearing Aid Repairs

Your hearing aids are in constant use, often from the moment you get up in the morning until your head hits the pillow at night. As such, take a lot of abuse and can occasionally need repairs to ensure continued function.

The problem is; how do you know your hearing aids need repairs? Often hearing aids can appear broken even if they’re not. Sometimes they just need switching on or having the volume turned up. So what are the tell-tale signs that something has gone seriously wrong and that you need to speak to a hearing health professional?

You’ve noticed a loss in sound quality

The purpose of hearing aids is to produce a clear, quality sound. So when they don’t do their job, it can have a severe knock-on impact on your quality of life.

The good news, however, is that the majority of sound quality issues are quickly resolved. Take the hearing aid out of your ear and inspect the earbud for problems. You may find that it has become encrusted with earwax which is blocking sound waves from reaching your inner ear. Remove the wax with a paper towel and reinsert into your ear. Does it sound better?

Sound quality issues could also indicate a problem with the speaker, microphone, battery, or processor. In these cases, you’ll need to speak to your hearing professional about a replacement or repairs.

Your hearing aids are too quiet

There are many reasons your hearing aids may appear to be too quiet. The first is that the volume is set too low. Is the volume setting correct? Try turning up the volume and see whether this makes a difference. Does it sound louder than before?

Another cause might be a deterioration in your hearing. Your device may no longer be able to provide adequate amplification. Check the current state of your hearing with your hearing professional to rule this out as the potential cause.

On many occasions, a loss of volume is a hardware-based issue. Hearing aids that produce minimal sound need replacing or repairing.

Your hearing aid is no longer comfortable

The internals of your hearing aid may be working fine, but you may still require repairs if you find them uncomfortable to wear. Dropping hearing aids on the floor can lead to damage which can then impact comfort. Slight changes in the shape of the hearing aid body can lead to rubbing and pressure points in the ear leading to pain and discouraging you from wearing the device. If you notice cracks or dents in the hearing aid body, speak to your hearing professional. They may be able to provide replacement parts.

Your hearing aids don’t last very long

The battery in your hearing aid can degrade, losing its capacity to store energy over time. Sometimes cells can deteriorate to the point where they can only hold a small fraction of the charge they could when new. You can usually buy replacement batteries and easily insert them into your device. Your hearing professional will show you how to install them if you are unsure.