Top Signs You Need Hearing Aid Repairs

Hearing devices typically last for around five years. In that time, they can become worn or physically damaged through general wear and tear. When this happens, it can affect the sound quality which can impact your life and cause damage to your hearing. 

You might notice a crack on the shell of your hearing aid or some wires are visible from the shell. These are signs of physical damage that shouldn't be ignored. These issues can be easily repaired by your audiologist or returned to the manufacturer. 

Wax is visible 

Our ears produce wax to protect the inner ear from damage and infection. This wax tends to dry up and fall out on its own. But if you're wearing a hearing aid the wax may not get a chance to escape. If it builds up too much on your device it will block it and cause it to malfunction.

There are ways to clean your earpiece regularly and this is highly recommended. However, sometimes wax gets into the tubes and affects the device's hearing capacity. If you notice wax in combination with reduced performance then it's time to have your device repaired. Your audiologist should be able to do this in their office. 

There is static noise 

It's normal for a hearing device to have some feedback and interference from time to time. This can happen due to proximity to radio waves, volume or how well it fits. Often these issues can be identified by you and easily fixed. Other times the issue goes beyond that and needs professional attention. 

If you experience regular feedback or static noise that can't be easily resolved you need to contact your audiologist to have it repaired. In this case it's likely that your device is faulty and will need to be repaired or replaced. 

The sound is affected 

Your hearing device is like a mini computer. It has tiny component parts and little circuit boards that can go wrong. Your hearing aid should function consistently. You can expect there to be some noise and feedback from time to time but the sounds should dip in and out too often. If it does that's a sign of a faulty device. 

Like any computer, your hearing aid can be repaired with professional attention. Your audiologist may be able to repair the device in the office, otherwise it will have to be returned to the manufacturer and a temporary replacement issued. 

It stops working 

If your hearing device goes off and doesn't come back on, or it takes a while to come back on, there is probably an issue with the device. Like a computer that crashes or malfunctions, your hearing device can be temperamental, especially if it is nearing the end of its life cycle. 

Don't persevere with a faulty hearing device, even if it comes back on eventually. Contact your audiologist and book an appointment. Depending on the age of the device it can be repaired or replaced.