4 Ways an Audiologist Helps with Hearing Aid Repairs

Even with the best of care, hearing aids are highly advanced and intricate devices, lending them to repairs every now and then. The right device can be like getting back something that has been taken from you and can give you back so much of your life. If it then stops working, the annoyance can be all the more considerable. So, if you find yourself with a hearing aid that doesn’t work, it is essential first to check three things.

1. That it is turned on (this seems obvious, but it’s worth checking in case it has been switched off by accident).
2. That it is at the correct volume level for your needs (as above).
3. That the battery is correctly inserted and functioning and that it is fully charged.

With these checks carried out, if the hearing aid still isn’t working, it is likely to need a more in-depth repair, at which point you should take it to your audiologist. They will be able to help you in the following four ways:

Give the hearing aid a more in-depth check

If you have been wearing the hearing aid day in, day out for a significant period of time, there is the possibility of a build-up of moisture or of earwax; that’s true even if you have been cleaning it scrupulously yourself. Your audiologist will be able to clean and check the device more thoroughly than you can at home, and when they have done this, it may not need any further repair.

Carry out the repairs then and there

If your hearing aid needs a repair, the chances are that it will not be anything unduly extensive; the devices are generally small and relatively simple, so it will often be a matter of fixing a fairly commonplace component or replacing something. If the repair is as simple as that, then the audiologist will usually be able to complete the fix while you wait and send you home with your hearing aid as good as new. They will advise you of this before embarking on a repair.

Refer the device for specialist repair

If your hearing aid requires more comprehensive repairs and needs a more in-depth diagnosis, the audiologist will inform you of this and either send it away or set it aside to have the work done by the manufacturer. While this may require slightly more time than in-office repairs, your audiologist will communicate each step of the way. 

Issue you with a replacement on loan

Should your hearing aid need more extensive repair, you may have loaner hearing aids available to you. Some audiologists can provide patients with a loan of another device; it may not be identical to your existing hearing aid, but it will have the same basic functionality and tide you over until your own device is ready for return.