Have you ever had your internet disappear right as you’re getting to the best part of your favorite Netflix movie? 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. Is it your internet provider, modem, router, or perhaps it will simply come back on its own? It sort of stinks.
Technology can be enormously frustrating when it doesn’t work properly. Your hearing aids certainly fall into this category. 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 your symptoms of hearing loss can suddenly become extremely frustrating when your hearing aids stop working. You’ve been disappointed by the technology you depend on. How do hearing aids just stop working? So how do you deal with that? Here are the three common ways your hearing aids can fail and how to diagnose and identify them.
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. Let’s take a look at possible causes of these problems and potential fixes.
Whistling and feedback
Perhaps you suddenly begin to hear an awful high-pitched whistling while you’re attempting to have a chat with a friend or relative. Or maybe you detect a little bit of feedback. And so you think, “Why am I hearing whistling in my hearing aids? This is strange”.
Here are three potential problems that could be causing this whistling and feedback:
- For individuals who wear behind-the-ear hearing aids, the tubing that connects your earmold with your hearing aid may have become compromised. Take a close look to identify whether the tube might have separated or may be compromised somehow.
- Your hearing aids might not be seated in your ears properly. Try to take them out and re-seat them. If the fit isn’t right you might need to come in so we can help you get a better fit.
- Earwax buildup in your ear canal can compromise the way your hearing aid works. You’ll find this comes up pretty often. That includes making your hearing aid whistle or feedback. You can attempt 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.
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
The main purpose of hearing aids is to generate sound. That’s their main function! So if you find yourself thinking, “I can’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 couple of things:
- Power: Everybody forgets to turn their hearing aids on once in a while. Check for this first. This potential issue can then be eliminated..
- Batteries: Be sure your batteries are fully charged. And even rechargeable batteries should be switched out once in a while.
- Your settings: Cycle through the personalized settings if your device has them. It’s feasible your hearing devices are not on the right custom program (so maybe your hearing aids think you’re in a gymnasium instead of at the kitchen table). This incorrect setting could throw off the sound you’re hearing.
- Earwax buildup: Here we go again with the earwax! Have a close look to see if you discover any earwax on the speakers or microphone. Keep your device really clean.
We’re here for you if these steps don’t clear your issues up. We’ll be able to help you identify 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 work perfectly, but whenever you put them in your ears, your ears start aching? And you’re likely wondering why your hearing aids would make your ears hurt. You’re not as likely to wear your hearing aids every day if they make your ears hurt. So, what could be causing it?
- Time: Sometimes, it just takes some time to get used to your hearing aids. How long it takes will depend on the person. It’s worth talking about when you buy your hearing aids so you have a reasonable concept of how long it may take you to become comfortable with your devices. If uncomfortable ears remain, speak with us about that as well!
- Fit: The most obvious problem can be the fit. Needless to say, when the fit is nice and snug, your hearing aids will work best. So when your hearing aids aren’t fitting very well, there can be some discomfort. Some models of hearing aid can be fit to the distinct shape of your ears. Over the long haul, you will have fewer problems if you have a tight fit. If you come in for a consultation, we can help you achieve the best fit for your device.
Avoid problems with a little test drive
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. In the majority of instances we’ll let you try out a pair of devices before you decide that’s the pair for you.
As a matter of fact, we can help you figure out the best type of hearing aid for your requirements, adjust the fit to match your ears, and help you manage any ongoing issues you may have with your devices. 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!