How to Troubleshoot Hearing Aid Repairs

Hearing aids are fantastic tools that can improve a person’s quality of life in immeasurable ways. These robust pieces of technology enable partially deaf individuals to hear more clearly, allowing them to experience life at its fullest without interruption.

If you are a hearing aid wearer, you will know that while these devices are built to last everyday wear and tear, they can occasionally become damaged. Sometimes this occurs from accidental damage, or it can simply happen from age and everyday use.

In this blog, we will explore how to troubleshoot your hearing aid repairs, and when to know it needs specialist repairs from your audiologist. 

Inspecting your hearing aid’s external body

If you notice that your hearing aid isn’t working correctly, you need to inspect it for signs of damage. Firstly, remove the hearing aid, and lay it down on a clean surface away from clutter. 

Here are some common signs of external damage to a hearing aid:

• Cracking to the plastic body: All hearing aids, whether you wear an in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC) or behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid, have a plastic body that protects its inner wiring. If this plastic exterior is cracked, it could be a sign that your hearing aid has been damaged somehow. 
• Buildup of earwax or other discharge: If you wear an ITC or ITE hearing aid, these could meet the natural earwax or ear discharge that appears in your ear canal. Earwax is a naturally occurring thick liquid substance and it can cause damage to your hearing aid if it is not cleaned off over time. 

If you notice a buildup of earwax on your hearing aid, use a clean cotton pad to wipe it clean off, unclogging any areas that are being affected.

Checking your hearing aid batteries

If there isn’t any sign of external damage to your hearing aid, now it’s time to check your hearing aid batteries. Try replacing the current batteries with brand new ones, then test the hearing aid to see if its functionality is back to normal. It could simply be that your hearing aid has run out of battery!

Take your hearing aid to your audiologist for repairs

Finally, if there are no external damages to the hearing aid and the batteries are not the issue, it’s time to give in and take your hearing aid to your audiologist. Your audiologist will be able to test the hearing aid, opening it up and seeing if there are any issues with its internal wiring. With any luck, your hearing aid can be repaired on the spot. In rare instances, if there is severe damage, you might be recommended a replacement hearing aid.

If you want to avoid damages to your hearing aid, ensure you clean it regularly, making sure to routinely switch out the batteries too. If your hearing aid is on the fritz, ensure you contact your audiologist for repair advice and general maintenance.