If you have hearing aids, you should be able to hear, right? When they aren’t working correctly, it can be extremely frustrating, it’s a real “You had ONE job” situation. Luckily, your hearing aids should have no issue doing their job if you properly maintain them.
Before you do anything drastic, look at this list. If it’s not one of these common problems, it might be time to schedule an appointment with us to ensure there isn’t a more substantial problem. Your hearing might have changed, for instance, or you may need a hearing aid recalibration.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
Hearing aid batteries, while improving in quality, still require recharging and replacing sometimes. That means that it’s important to keep up with your hearing aids’ batteries. If it seems like the sound is diminishing or coming and going, check your battery first.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
Purchasing a battery tester, especially if you like to stock up, is a practical idea. Batteries have a shelf life so the last batteries in the pack might not have the same voltage as the first few even if they stay sealed. Another trick: Wait five minutes after you open new batteries before you install them. This can help extend the battery life by allowing the zinc to become active.
Potential Pitfall: Grease, Grime, And Other Gross Stuff
No matter how clean you keep your ears, and if you have a hard time hearing, you’re a lot more likely than the average individual to stay on top of earwax, your hearing aids will accumulate dirt and debris. If you can hear but sounds seem distorted or a bit off, dirt could be the cause.
The fix: Clean Them Out—And Keep Them Clean!
You can get a kit for cleaning your hearing aids or you can use things you already have around the house to clean them. You can use a microfiber cloth, like the kind you use to clean your cellphone or glasses, to wipe your hearing aid down after taking it apart.
You can help keep your hearing aids from attracting excess filth by employing basic hygiene habits. Whenever you do something that calls for liquid or moisture, such as cleaning your face or styling your hair, take your hearing aids out and make certain your hands aren’t wet when handling them.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Moisture can be a real problem for hearing aids, and it doesn’t take very much to do so (you don’t need to be underwater, even a sweat can be problematic). The vent in the hearing aid and the battery can even be effected by humidity in the air. Depending on how much moisture’s gotten in, you may experience problems from sound distortion to static, to crackling. They may even seem to stop working.
The fix: Keep ‘em Dry
Make sure that when you store your hearing aids, you open the battery door; and if you’re taking them out for longer than overnight, remove the batteries entirely. It takes almost zero effort and guarantees that air can move, and any captured moisture can escape.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to keep your hearing aids. Don’t keep them in the bathroom or kitchen. Even though the latter is convenient, the steam from a hot shower is precisely what you don’t want. If you live in a humid climate, you might want to consider getting a hearing aid storage box. Most versions use a desiccant in the form of a small moisture absorbing packet, but some more expensive versions remove moisture with electronics.
If you’ve tried all of these and none of them are helping then it might be time for you to give us a call.