3 Common Hearing Aid Repairs

Like all electronic devices, hearing aids are not meant to last forever. Small things can happen that cause them to malfunction and need repairs. Unlike with other devices, however, a hearing aid that doesn’t work can be more serious than a broken TV.

Since a hearing aid is made of lots of small pieces, there are several reasons that it might need repairs. Being aware of the ways that your hearing aid will start to show wear and tear can help you seek hearing aid repairs from a trained audiologist before it becomes a bigger problem.

Issues like a distorted sound, a whistling noise or no sound at all are very common and easy to recognize. Other things like an increased discomfort when wearing your hearing aid may be harder to notice and easy to brush off. There are three basic categories of malfunction that will require hearing aid repair to make sure that you are comfortable.

Tubes

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids use tubes that will need to be changed sometimes. Tubes can harden, crack or be damaged by excess moisture. Sometimes they are blocked by earwax or other debris. Tubes can also become overstretched and discolored.

Because there are so many reasons your tubes might need to be replaced, it is important to be sensitive to warning signs. You could notice that the sounds are weaker than they should be because they are not being transmitted properly.

If your tubes need replacing, it is very easy to do. You may also be able to do it on your own. If you do want to do it on your own, you should talk to your audiologist about how to do it correctly and the tools that you will need. If you are uncomfortable doing it on your own, your audiologist can do it for you.

Fitting issues

When you initially got your hearing aids, they were fitted to your specific ear so they would be comfortable to wear all day. Even with this personalization, they can still start to feel uncomfortable over time because your body is always changing and growing, even in later years. Because of changes to your body, the hearing aids may no longer be the proper fit for your ear.

If your hearing aids start to feel uncomfortable, your audiologist may be able to make a quick adjustment and make them comfortable again. If it cannot be corrected quickly, you may have to do a new earmold. This will take a little longer, up to a couple of weeks, but will help you feel comfortable all day with your hearing aids.

Sound quality

The entire purpose of a hearing aid is to help you be able to hear the sounds around you, so when that is compromised, it requires immediate attention. Sometimes the problem is resolved as easily as replacing the batteries or cleaning the device. Other times you will need professional help to repair issues. There may be internal issues that need to be fixed or replaced. Before you take it into a professional, try the easy fixes and adjust the settings. If the problem is still not resolved, take it to your audiologist for them to examine.