Repairing Your Hearing Aid

Your hearing aid is your gateway to the world around you. It enables you to enjoy the sounds of the birds, the laughter of children, and conversations with loved ones. When it ceases to work, it can feel as though your world is tumbling around you, leaving you out in the cold and unable to communicate. The good news is there is a fix.  Sometimes, the fix may be simple and something that can be done at home. However, other times the fix requires a skilled technician to repair the hearing aid back to its normal range of functionality.

The Simple Fix

Hearing aids are like any other electronic equipment. They are only as good as their parts. When the parts are all working together in unison, they are amazing pieces of equipment. However, when one part ceases to work, the whole piece will cease to work. The good news is that sometimes this is a small problem with a quick and easy solution. One of the first items to check is to make sure it is turned on, and the volume is up. While this sounds like a no-brainer, the truth is that if a child or pet gets ahold of the hearing aid or if it simply falls and is kicked around a bit, it can easily be turned down or off completely without your knowledge, especially if you had it on when you took it out.

If this is not the problem, the next issue may be the battery.  Unfortunately, hearing aid batteries have a shelf life that is shorter than most people would like. Batteries give little notice that they are about to die, and therefore they can cease to work at any moment.  Without the battery to power the hearing aid, the entire machine will stop working.  Simply replace the battery and you will be good to go. Note, we have had patients who had dead batteries from some drug stores.
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Finally, like everything else, sometimes a hearing aid needs to be cleaned. It may become clogged with wax or condensation, which could keep it from working properly. If this is the case, simply clean the hearing aid or replace the waxguard on the device as instructed by your doctor, and your hearing aid should begin working as normal.

The More Complex Fix

If the simple fixes do not solve the problem, there may be a mechanical or electronic issue with the hearing aid.  A wire may have become loose or stopped working altogether. Maybe there is a crack that is not visible to the naked eye. It is even possible something is fried internally. This is the time to bring your hearing aid to a specialist who is licensed to repair hearing aids back to their original splendor. More than likely, the hearing aid can be repaired, and you will be back to hearing within a matter of hours or a few days at most. However, if your hearing aid is unable to be repaired, it is important to have purchased insurance to help offset the cost of a replacement.

​If you find yourself in need of hearing aid repairs or a new hearing aid, contact the experts at Hearing of America at (651) 528-7868.  We will be happy to help you hear once again.