When to Seek Help for Hearing Aid Repairs

Having been diagnosed with hearing loss by the audiologist, hearing aids can transform your life for the better. However, your responsibilities don’t end at the time of fitting. Keeping your hearing aids in great health is an ongoing battle and hearing aid repairs play a central role. The first task, though, is knowing when to seek professional help with those proposed repairs.

Establishing a sense of control in this aspect of hearing aid maintenance can have a telling impact on your comfort as well as the performance levels. In truth, it’s as easy as ABC.

Acknowledge (the fault)

It’s impossible to fix a problem if you don’t even realize there is an issue in the first place. Identifying that there is a fault with the hearing aid device is the first step towards restoring their health.

Only you can accept that the hearing aids aren’t performing as they should. Common symptoms include;

• Turning the TV up.
• Struggling with conversations.
• Missing alarms and calls.
• Buzzing and whistling.
• Leaning in towards the source of a sound.

Essentially, if any of the symptoms linked to the initial hearing loss have started to occur even when wearing your hearing aids, it’s likely that help is required.

Bid (to rectify the damage)

Hearing aids are delicate products. As such, the problems are often caused by very minor issues that can easily be rectified if you know how. This can save you the time and effort of a preventable trip to the audiologist. Moreover, it’ll allow you to reap the rewards of restored comfort and performance with immediate results.

There are a number of ways to troubleshoot problems from home. Here are some of the best;

• Change the battery and check that the battery is inserted correctly and that the door closes properly.
• Confirm that the device is switched on and that the volume levels are set to the desired value.
• Check that the device sits in your ear in the intended fashion and reposition any parts that have moved.
• Test the tubing and repair it if signs of wear and tear start to show. Ask the audiologist how to do this in advance.
• Clean the device of any excess wax and gunk from the device, especially around the amplification system.

These steps won’t always do the trick, but can have a telling influence in several situations.

Call (for support)

If basic troubleshooting does not work, it’s time to call the audiologist for a little help. This will enable you to have the device checked over and may even result in testing your hearing too. After all, the change in performance may be to do with your ears.

The audiologist can complete a number of tasks, including:

• Changing the tubing, battery and other basic features.
• Recalibrate the hearing aids so that they are suited to your needs.
• Test the mold to see whether it still fits your ear shape.
• Complete a more thorough cleaning of the hearing aid.
• Consider replacing the device altogether.

One way or another, hearing aid repairs are essential for anybody that has seen a negative change in the performance or comfort. Whichever option is taken, the most important factor is to take immediate action. Do this and you won’t go far wrong.