If you’re a hearing aid user, you know that hearing aids significantly improve, not just your hearing, but your quality of life as well. You also know that sometimes your hearing aids are uncomfortable or don’t transmit sound like they should. These are common problems, and often you can solve them on your own. Let’s discuss some common issues you may experience with your hearing aids and some steps you can take to rectify the problem yourself.
Problem: Sound is Distorted or Reduced
If your hearing aids aren’t producing any sound, or if the sound is distorted or reduced, here are some things you can try:
- Make sure the volume is turned up.
- Check the speaker. The speaker may be clogged. Remove earwax with a wax pick and change the earwax filters. Inspect for any other debris.
- Check the batteries. If you have rechargeable hearing aids, make sure they’re charged. If your hearing aids use replaceable batteries, the battery may be dead. Replace it and make sure the battery is the correct type and inserted properly. It should rest in place easily without any force.
- Check for moisture. Water and excess moisture in the hearing aid, earmold and tubing can cause significant damage to your hearing aids. Leave your hearing aids and tubing out to dry for a few hours or use a hearing aid drying kit or dehumidifier.
- Change the program or memory. You may have accidentally switched the program to a T-coil program or another program meant to be used with wireless assistive listening devices.
Problem: Feedback
Feedback is an irritating, high-pitched sound often described as whistling, ringing, humming, squealing or buzzing. It occurs when sound produced by the hearing aid speaker escapes the ear canal and “feeds back” through the microphone and speaker.
- Remove and reinsert your hearing aids. The most common reason for hearing aid feedback is that they were inserted improperly. When putting them back in, make sure they fit snugly with a good seal so there are no gaps through which sound can escape.
- Check for earwax buildup. Earwax buildup in the ear canal can cause the hearing aid to not seal properly or can cause sound to bounce back out of the ear. Do not clean your ear with a Q-tip or cotton swab; instead, use over-the-counter eardrops to soften the wax, then lie on your side with your ear on a towel to let it drain.
- Turn the volume down. If you have the volume up too loud, sound can leak out of your ear canal and back into the microphone. If you feel you need to turn the volume up that high for your hearing aids to be effective, your hearing needs may have changed, so talk to your audiologist.
Problem: Battery Dies Too Fast
If it seems like your batteries aren’t lasting as long as they should, try these tips.
- Look for things that might drain the battery. Things like streaming or using accessories can drain the battery faster.
- Consider feedback. Many modern hearing aids come with sophisticated feedback cancellation capabilities. If your hearing aids have been working overtime to cancel feedback, that will drain the battery. Review the feedback section above.
- If you have replaceable batteries, check the expiration date on the packaging. Do not store batteries in the refrigerator.
Problem: The Hearing Aid Keeps Falling Out
It may not seem like it, but hearing aids get jostled around a lot during daily life. Simple activities such as walking, jogging, talking and chewing will all affect your ear canal. That said, if they fit properly, falling out shouldn’t be a major issue. Here are some things to try if hearing aids falling out is a recurring problem.
- Make sure you insert them correctly. When you do, you should feel the seal engage and result in a nice, snug fit.
- Remove excess earwax. Earwax buildup can affect the shape of the ear canal, and as a result, can affect the fit. Clean earwax off the hearing aid and remove excess earwax from your ear canal. As discussed above, do not use a Q-tip to remove earwax buildup.
- Check for moisture. Sweat or water can make the inside of your ear slippery. Allow your ears to dry out, then reinsert your hearing aids.
Problem: Discomfort or Pain
Your hearing aids should not hurt or cause discomfort in your ears. Make sure you insert them correctly. As said above, you should experience a snug fit that comfortably fits in the ear. Try moving them around in the ear canal a bit to see if one spot is more comfortable than another.
Next Steps
If you’ve tried all the steps above and the problem persists, it may be time to speak to your audiologist. Your hearing aids may need adjustments to their programming or a new fit. Call Elevate Audiology today to make an appointment.