Have you ever been watching your favorite Netflix movie when your internet suddenly disappears? Instead of finding out who won the baking show, you have to watch a never-ending spinning circle. All you can do is wait around for it to come back. Perhaps it’s your modem, might be your router, possibly it’s the internet provider, or possibly 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 functioning properly, hearing aids can help you remain connected with the ones you love and better hear co-workers when they talk to you.
But when they stop working, your hearing loss symptoms can suddenly become a lot more frustrating. The technology you’re counting on has failed you. Why would your hearing aids just stop functioning? So what can you do? Well, there are three common ways that hearing aids can malfunction, here’s how you can start to recognize and troubleshoot those problems.
Hearing aids can often have three common issues
Hearing aids are complex devices. Even still, there are some common issues that people with hearing aids might encounter. Here’s what might be causing those issues (and what you can do to correct them).
Whistling and feedback
So, maybe you’re attempting to have a conversation with your family or watch your favorite show and you begin to notice a dreadful whistling sound. Or maybe you notice a little bit of feedback. You start to think, “this is strange, what’s up with this whistling”?
Feedback and whistling can be caused by these possible problems:
- Earwax accumulation in your ear canal can compromise how your hearing aid functions. You’ll find this comes up pretty often. That includes causing your hearing aids to whistle or feedback. You can try to clean some of the earwax out (never use a cotton swab) and if that doesn’t work out, you can get some assistance from us.
- For people who use behind-the-ear hearing aids, the tubing that connects your earmold with your hearing aid may have become compromised. Have a close look to identify whether the tube might have separated or might be compromised in some way.
- Your hearing aids might not be seated in your ears properly. Try to remove them and re-seat them. You can also try reducing the volume (if this works, you might find some temporary relief, but it also likely means that the fit isn’t quite right and you should consult us about it).
Depending on the underlying cause of the feedback, we can help you resolve these problems if you can’t fix them on your own.
Hearing aids not generating sound
Your hearing aids should make, well, sound. That’s their main function! Something has certainly gone wrong if you can’t hear any sound coming from your hearing aid. So what could cause hearing aids to lose all sound? Well, there are a few things:
- Earwax buildup: Yup, earwax strikes again. Take a close look to see if you discover any earwax on the speakers or microphone. Keep your device really clean.
- Batteries: If you have rechargeable batteries, be sure that they’re fully charged. And whether your batteries are rechargeable or not, it may be worth switching them out for fresh ones.
- Your settings: Cycle through the personalized settings if your device has them. It’s feasible your hearing devices are not on the right custom setting (so maybe your hearing aids think you’re in a gymnasium instead of around the kitchen table). The sound you’re hearing could be off as a result.
- Power: Everybody forgets to turn their hearing aids on once in a while. Check for this first. This possible issue can then be eliminated..
If these steps don’t correct your problems, we might have the solution. Whether repair, maintenance, or replacement is your next step, we will be capable of helping you figure that out.
When you have your hearing aids in, you feel pain in your ears
Perhaps your hearing aids are fine functionally but they hurt when you put them in. And you’re probably thinking: why do my ears hurt when I wear my hearing aids? You’re not as likely to wear your hearing aids every day if they make your ears hurt. So, why do they hurt?
- Fit: The most obvious issue can be the fit. Needless to say, when the fit is nice and tight, your hearing aids will work best. So when your hearing aids aren’t fitting very well, there can be some pain. Some models of hearing aid can be fit to the particular shape of your ears. The better the fit, the fewer issues you’ll have with discomfort over the long haul. If you come in for a consultation, we can help you achieve the best fit for your device.
- Time: Getting used to your hearing aids will take some time. How long will depend on the person. When you first get your hearing aids, we can help you get a reasonable concept of the adjustment period you can expect. Also, talk to us about any discomfort you may be experiencing.
Take your new hearing aid out for a test ride
One of the best ways to prevent possible issues with hearing aids is to take them out for a bit of a test run before you decide. Most of the time we will have loaner pairs for you to try out before you make a decision.
Selecting the correct hearing aids, adjusting them to fit your needs, and helping with any extended problems you may have, are all things we will help with. We will be your resource for any assistance you need.
And that’s most likely more dependable than your internet company.
