Any hearing aid that stops working is much more than just an inconvenience. The good news is that most of the time, a non-functioning hearing aid can be revived. Below are some of the most common problems and solutions.
If you own a receiver in the ear style hearing aid with a custom earmold, make sure that the wax filter isn’t clogged. If you can’t get the wax filter out, remove it with a pin. If your hearing aid has disposable domes, remove the dome first, and then remove the filter.
A hearing aid with a thin tube can be removed by unscrewing or unsnapping where the tube connects to the hearing aid. If the hearing aid starts making noise, you’ve discovered the problem. You’ll need to put on a replacement tube. Most of the time, the failure is because the tubing is crimped or clogged with wax.
If you wear a traditional earmold with a tube, it’s quite possible that the tubing is blocked with moisture, wax, or oil. Separate the mold from the hearing aid. If the hearing aid starts whistling, the earmold was clogged. Soak the mold in warm soapy water. Blow out the excess water into a tissue just in case a bit of wax comes out, too. You’ll probably need a new tube. The connecting hook that goes over your ear may need replacement as well. It should be easy to unscrew..
Most behind-the-ear style hearing aids have exposed microphone openings. Brushing with a soft toothbrush to clear debris can help.
If you wear a custom molded hearing aid, remove the filter. Some devices have microphone covers that are also removable. Use a soft toothbrush to clean the microphones. With some of the smaller devices, the microphone is built inside the case and won’t be easy to find.
Other earbud type devices may require a disposable sleeve or filter. Replacing these pieces can help.
Lastly, with Lyric hearing aids, a dead device can be removed with your Soundlink tool. A blunt nosed tweezer can also be carefully used.
This may seem too simple, but always check the battery. Try a battery from another package or put your hearing aid back in the charger. Many times, failure comes from a dead, uncharged, or out of date battery.
If your hearing aid is still not functioning, there’s a chance that your Audiologist can perform CPR and replace parts. If nothing works, the hearing aid manufacturer will need to repair your device. When troubleshooting doesn’t help, pick up the phone and call us. Or drop your hearing aid off. We want you to hear every word.