Have you ever had your internet cut just as you’re almost to the best part of your favorite Netflix show? Instead of finding out who won the baking show, you have to watch an endless spinning circle. And so you just wait. Is it your internet provider, modem, router, or maybe it will simply come back on its own? It kind of stinks.
Technology can be enormously frustrating when it doesn’t work correctly. The same is certainly true of your hearing aids. When they’re working properly, hearing aids can help you stay connected with the ones you love and better hear co-workers when they speak to you.
But your symptoms of hearing loss can suddenly become really frustrating when your hearing aids stop working. You’ve been let down by the technology you depend on. Why would your hearing aids just stop working? So how do you deal with that? Well, there are three common ways that hearing aids can fail, here’s how you can start to recognize and troubleshoot those issues.
Hearing aids can often have three common issues
Even though hearing aids are sophisticated technology, people may encounter three common problems with them. Here’s what might be causing those issues (and what you can do to fix them).
Feedback and whistling
Maybe you suddenly start to hear a terrible high-pitched whistling while you’re attempting to have a chat with a friend or relative. Or perhaps you notice a little bit of feedback. You start to think, “this is strange, what’s up with this whistling”?
Here are three potential issues that could be causing this feedback and whistling:
- The functionality of your hearing aid can be impacted by earwax buildup in your ear canal. You’ll find this comes up fairly often. Whistling and feedback are frequently one result of this sort of earwax accumulation. If possible, you can attempt to clean some earwax out of your ear or talk to us about the best method to do that (don’t use a cotton swab).
- You might not have your hearing aids correctly positioned in your ears. Try to take them out and re-seat them. If the fit isn’t correct you may need to come see us so we can help you get a better fit.
- The tubing that connects the hearing aid with the earmold, on behind-the-ear models, can occasionally become compromised. Try to examine this tubing as well as you can and make certain nothing is loose and the tube does not appear damaged.
If these issues are not easily resolved, it’s worth talking to us about adjusting the fit or sending your device in for servicing (depending on what we think the underlying cause of that whistling or feedback might be).
No sound coming from your hearing aids
Your hearing aids should make, well, sound. That’s their principal function! Something has definitely gone wrong if you can’t hear any sound coming from your hearing aid. So what could cause hearing aids to drop all sound? Here are several things to look for:
- Earwax buildup: Here we go again with the earwax! Have a close look to see if you find any earwax on the speakers or microphone. You want to make certain the device is good and clean.
- Your settings: If you have them, cycle through your custom settings. It’s possible your hearing devices are not on the right custom program (so maybe your hearing aids think you’re in a gymnasium instead of around the kitchen table). This incorrect setting could throw off the sound you’re hearing.
- Power: Everyone forgets to turn their hearing aids on once in a while. Make sure that isn’t the issue. Then you can cross that of the list of possible problems.
- Batteries: If you have rechargeable batteries, make sure that they are completely charged. And even rechargeable batteries should be swapped out on occasion.
If these steps don’t correct your issues, 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
What if your hearing aids are working fine, but whenever you put them in your ears, your ears begin to hurt? And you’re most likely thinking: why do my ears hurt when I use my hearing aids? This sort of discomfort isn’t exactly conducive to using your hearing aids on a day-to-day basis. So, what could be causing it?
- 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. Which means that there can sometimes be pain involved in a poor fit. Many hearing aids can be personalized to your specific 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 a little while. Each individual will have a different adjustment period. When you first get your new hearing aids, we can help you get a reasonable idea of the adjustment period you can expect. Also, speak with us about any discomfort you might be having.
Take your new hearing aid out for a test ride
One of the best ways to avoid possible issues with hearing aids is to take them for a bit of a test run before you commit. In most cases we’ll let you test out a set of devices before you decide that’s the set for you.
Selecting the correct hearing aids, adjusting them to fit your needs, and helping with any extended issues you might have, are all things we will help with. We will be your resource for any help you need.
And that’s most likely more reliable than your internet company.