Hearing loss affects more than one in 10 people in the United States, and hearing aids are the number one tool to treat it. Getting your first set of hearing aids is an exciting opportunity, but it also comes with some responsibility. You’ll need to clean your devices nightly, charge or replace their batteries, and keep them out of reach of pets that may view them as chew toys.
One important part of hearing aid care is identifying and troubleshooting common issues. While some issues are better left to the professionals, you can troubleshoot a few at home.
Issue #1: Low Volume
Low volume typically stems from a low battery. If your hearing aids are rechargeable, pop them in their charging case for at least fifteen minutes. If they use disposable batteries, try swapping out the dead batteries for new ones.
If the low volume persists, something could be clogging the microphone or receiver. Clean your devices with their hearing aid cleaning kit and replace the wax guard if it looks clogged.
Issue #2: Whistling
While many hearing aids have feedback suppression, you may still hear occasional whistling. Whistling often occurs when your devices are improperly placed or blocked with wax.
Try reinserting your hearing aids. If that doesn’t fix the issue, give them a deep clean to remove potential wax blockages. In some cases, the whistling happens because you have an earwax blockage in the ear canal. If you suspect a blockage is the issue, call us for safe earwax removal.
Issue #3: Your Hearing Aids Got Wet
Dropping your hearing aids in the sink while washing the dishes or accidentally splashing them while gliding around on a Boathouse paddleboat in Forest Park can make your heart sink—but don’t panic. Modern hearing aids have a water-resistant or waterproof coating that protects against accidental splashes. Just remove your devices from the water source, gently dry them with a towel and place them in a hearing aid drying jar or electric dryer to remove moisture.
Issue #4: The Hearing Aid is Uncomfortable
Many people find hearing aids uncomfortable for the first week or so. That’s completely normal and should go away as you get used to the devices. Try removing and reinserting your devices to see if the placement was behind the discomfort. Persistent discomfort or pain could indicate that you should see a specialist to adjust the fit.
If your hearing aids feel uncomfortable, or any of the above issues don’t respond to at-home troubleshooting, contact Center for Hearing & Speech to schedule a service and repair appointment with one of our specialists.
