What to Do if You Need Hearing Aid Repairs

Hearing aids are expensive devices. As a result, when they go wrong, you’d rather get them repaired than fork out for a new set.

Repairing your hearing aids yourself is not always advisable. Hearing aids are complex pieces of equipment that often require the expertise of a specialist, like an audiologist, to fix.

Check that there is a genuine fault

Sometimes hearing aids can appear to stop working even if there’s nothing wrong with the hardware or electronics inside. Often problems can arise as a result of a change in the settings. Changes can occur without you realizing, leading you to believe that there is a hardware issue when there isn’t.

Do the following:

• Check The Device Is Switched On. Check that the device is on. Some devices will provide a visual or audible signal to tell you they’re active.
• Check The Volume. Can’t hear anything coming from your hearing aids? Check that the volume is turned up by adjusting it in one-unit increments.
• Clean The Bud. Buds can be blocked by excess earwax. Check that they are clear from debris.

Examine the device for damage

Hearing aids do occasionally become damaged to the point where they lose function. Although today’s devices are surprisingly robust, things can still go wrong.

The good news is that replaceable parts are available on most models. If you notice damage to easily swapped out parts, like the microphone shield or the tube, you can replace these yourself, or get a family member to do it for you.

However, there are times when you are better off going to see your audiologists. If you see any damage to the electronics themselves, or if there are cracks in the hearing aid body, then you may need professional help. Although you may think that you can solve the problem yourself, you may end up causing further damage to the device, increasing your repair bill.

When to contact your audiologist

The good news is that even if there is extensive damage to your hearing aid, many manufacturers offer extended warranties, meaning that you can get a replacement hearing aid quickly. You may also receive free repairs and temporary hearing aids while you wait for the work to be done.

How do you know when you should contact your audiologist? As a general rule of thumb, if you hear any strange noises coming from your devices, such as hissing or whirring sounds, then visiting your audiologist is a must. Noises like these usually only arise because of severe internal hardware issues, such as problems with the speaker or microelectronics.

Audiologists will also be able to tell you whether you have a software issue and if your device requires a firmware update (a name given to the software which controls the function and management of the device).

It’s worth bearing in mind that needing hearing aid repairs aren’t necessarily a bad thing. You can use the opportunity to work with your audiologist to adjust your hearing aid settings so that you get the best audio experience possible.