2 Signs Your Hearing Aid Needs Professional Repair

When your hearing aid stops working, you probably know to check our controls and the battery to make sure it’s turned on, turned up, clean and getting power. Beyond these simple troubleshooting steps, there are times when you will need to escalate your hearing aid problem to an expert. If your hearing aid malfunction falls into the two following scenarios, it’s time to take your device to an audiologist.

1. You’re experiencing static, feedback or your hearing aid’s volume keeps going in and out.

A problem with sound quality, consistency, or volume could point to one of at least three different problems:

• It could be a sign that earwax or moisture has worked its way inside the hearing aid where you can’t reach it with routine cleaning. An audiologist can give it a deep clean to remove any damaging dirt and wax and get it working great again.

• It could also mean you have a poorly fitted hearing aid. Over time, our bodies change and so do our ears. As gaps develop between your ears and your hearing devices, air (and sound) can get around the hearing aid and interfere with your listening experience. If it’s been a while since you’ve had your hearing aids fit or the whistling has only started since a recent fitting, it’s time to visit your audiologist. They’ll adjust your hearing aid or take new earmold impressions so you’ll have an air-tight fit once again.

• It could be a problem with an electronic piece of your hearing aid. Electronics get damaged over time or wear out. Your audiologist can precisely diagnose the problem and either repair it in-office or send it out to the manufacturer.

2. You notice visible damage to your tubing, vents, microphone or casing.

Structural damage to your hearing aids can interfere with electronic parts inside the device, or, in the case of bad tubing, prevent sound from traveling unhindered from the microphone to the amplifier (and into your ears).  Any signs of wear on your hearing aid deserve immediate attention. Audiologists can quickly replace inexpensive parts like tubes, earbuds and battery doors. If the entire case is damaged, they might need to send it out to the manufacturer for repair or replacement.

Don’t be afraid to troubleshoot your own hearing aid for simple issues, but know the signs that you should take your hearing aid in for professional service. Whether you need is a re-fitting or a replacement part, an audiologist has the tools and expertise to get your hearing aid working well once again.