When to See an Audiologist About Hearing Aid Repairs

Hearing aids have long provided relief for those who experience hearing loss or have challenges with hearing, and they’ve also enjoyed giant leaps in operation and function thanks to technological advances in the field of audiology.

However, over time they are also subject to wear and tear issues, and even small bumps, drops or accidents can damage the sophisticated hardware that makes them work. So, if you have had your hearing aids for some time or know of an occasion where you may have damaged your hearing aid or aids, you may require repair and maintenance.

If you notice any of these signs, see the advice of your audiologist:

• There is visible damage on the device: Hearing aids are not particularly large devices, and they’re getting smaller by the day. So, it may not always be easy to notice minor defects or damage. However, even minor damage can cause dramatic reductions in the efficacy of these devices.
• If spotted in time, regular cleaning and checks of your hearing aids can help prevent more significant damage down the line. You should check for cracks, feel if the device doesn’t fit quite as well as you’re used to or if you can clearly notice a reduction in sound quality or if you notice cracking sounds in your ears, you will want to have your hearing aids checked out.
• You notice a whistling sound: If your device has an electronic fault, you will often hear a soft whistling sound that could increase over time and become incredibly annoying and uncomfortable.
• You’re not receiving any sound: This is one of the more obvious signs that your hearing aids are not working as they should be. If you’re clearly not receiving any sound or there are cracks and whooshing or white noise type of sounds, this is an obvious sign that you need to have your hearing aids evaluated.
• Sounds are distorted: When you notice that the sounds you are receiving are not clear and are interrupted or you battle to make sense of what you’re hearing, this could mean that there is a problem with the hardware of your hearing aids or that there is an electrical problem.
• The volume fluctuates: If you’ve been using hearing aids for some time, you’ll know what sounds normal to you and what doesn’t, so if you’re suddenly noticing that you’re finding it more challenging to filter through different sounds or noises and these increase or decrease in volume without your adjustment, there is a problem.
• Your overall hearing has worsened: It is natural for our hearing quality to decrease over time, especially if you already experience hearing loss. But when you notice that the overall quality of your hearing has worsened, this may not be a problem with you but rather with your hearing aids.

If you know that your device has gotten wet, or you knocked them off of a table or if there have been other obvious external sources of potential damage to your hearing aids, then it’s always a good idea to have them examined for possible faults that a specialist could repair.