Hearing aids are the best way to counter hearing loss, but, like all technologies, they will wear out over time. It can be quite disconcerting to realize that you can’t hear as well as you could, but it may be that it is not your ears that are deteriorating, it is just time for a new hearing aid.

There are three main signs that your hearing aids aren’t working as well as they used to and if you experience any of them, it is well worth making an appointment with your audiologist to get a replacement quickly.

Problems with the volume

One of the most common signs that you need a new hearing aid is problems with the volume. If your hearing aid isn’t producing any sound, this will obviously have an impact on your day-to-day life. The reasons for this problem range from simple wear and tear to a build-up of wax in the microphone. It may also be a simple case of a flat battery.

Volume fluctuation is another sign that your hearing aids aren’t working. If you notice that when you try to change the volume nothing happens, or you can’t turn the hearing aid up enough to hear properly, you may need to see your audiologist to check your hearing again.

Make sure that you clean your hearing aids regularly and remember to change the batteries.

Problems with distorted sounds

Another sign that your hearing aids may not be working for you is the amount of distortion to the sound. This could be a caused by a couple of things. If your battery is wearing out, then changing it could be the best solution to fix the issue. Distortion may also be caused by having the hearing aid on the wrong setting so try swapping settings to see which is best.

If changing the settings and using a new battery don’t help, there could be a more serious issue with your hearing aid that requires a repair.

Problems with feedback

Feedback does affect all hearing aid wearers and is a common complaint. It occurs when the hearing aid is disturbed and there is a noise coming from your ear that is re-amplified by the microphone. This is why it is so common to hear whistling noises when you touch your ear.

However, hearing whistling noises or other feedback when you are not touching your ear could be a sign that there is a problem with your hearing aid. One of the most common problems is that your hearing aid was not fitted perfectly and so it does not fit properly on your ear. Another issue might be that there is a build-up of earwax that needs cleaning. If you experience regular whistling noises that are interfering with your activities, don’t hesitate to report the problem and find a fix.

Hearing aids are a great tool for people with hearing loss but they aren’t always perfect. Your hearing is important so if you have any issues with your hearing aid, make sure that you get it sorted out quickly.