Do Your Hearing Aids Need Professional Repairs?

Hearing aids are your lifeline. They make your life safer and happier; they allow you to join in the conversation, they help you interact at work and they are there when you want to listen to a piece of music. Without your hearing aids, you may feel pretty lost. So, if you have had them for a few years and they are not working as well as they used to, or if they are suddenly not working properly or you have dropped or otherwise damaged them, you may be wondering if you can do anything to fix them or if they need professional repairs.

The fact is your hearing aids will need repairing over time due to a variety of different reasons. Wax build-up is one common issue that needs a resolution. To help you decide if you should take them for professional repairs, here are a few things to look out for.

You Can’t Turn It On

Just because the hearing aid will not turn on at the moment, there is no reason to automatically think it is dead. Perhaps all you need is a new battery. Another thing to check over is if the tubing that connects the receiver to the mold is caked in earwax. This could be causing an issue with the sound transmission rather than it not turning on. If you are unsure, just double-check with an audiologist to see if you need any repairs on your hearing aids.

The Volume

The volume is essential to your overall ease of using the device. It should not change on its own. If the hearing aid is experiencing reducing or increasing in volume when you have not touched the device, then there is an issue. Alternatively, if you press the volume button and it does not change again, there is some internal issue with the device. This means that you should take your hearing aids to your audiologist for investigation and a repair.

They Are Becoming Less Effective

This may occur in situations where you feel that your hearing is getting worse again. Perhaps things are getting quieter, or maybe the frequency is not accurate anymore. Whatever the circumstance, you think it is you, but in actual fact, it is the device. So, if you feel that your hearing aid are no longer producing the great results that they were in the beginning, don’t automatically assume it is you; contact your audiologist.

They will conduct a test to see if it is you or the device, and then they can work accordingly. If it is the device, then they can reprogram your hearing aid to make sure that the derived is still capturing the right frequency for your hearing. An audiologist should also be able to test the device to make sure that it is the right divide for you. Perhaps you need a new model or a simple upgrade.

You Can See Damage

This may be a pretty obvious one. If you have damaged your hearing aid in some way and it is visible, then you may have affected its functionality. This could hamper fitting, and the component parts may be faulty now. If there are any cracks in the hearing aid shell, or if the tubing is worn out or even if you have broken the case, all these examples need to be checked out.

In cracked cases, for example, moisture can easily seep into the hearing aid and begin to damage it. To avoid huge repair costs in the future, it makes a lot more sense to seek help from an audiologist as soon as you notice the damage. Small damage can be repaired far more easily than damage that has been allowed to fester. An audiologist can repair small components things pretty quickly in their office. So, don’t put this off for fear of the cost; get it sorted asap.

It’s Making Whistling Sound or Undue Feedback

If your device is whistling, then you may have an issue with your hearing aid. Perhaps it hasn’t been fitted properly, or you have wax in your ears. A permanent whistling sound means you should try and clean your ears out, then try again. If this does not resolve your issue, then take it to an audiologist for repair.

If you are concerned about your hearing aid and how it is functioning, give Clifton Springs Hearing Center a call at 315-496-4314. We’ll be happy to check out your devices, make in-office repairs or act as a liaison if the damages require manufacturer intervention.