What are the common reasons why hearing aids break down & how to avoid this.
It’s frustrating when your hearing aid stops working but there may be a simple solution to fix the problem. A solution that you may be able to do at home.
Help, my hearing aid isn’t working!
In the IT & computing world, a common response if your computer isn’t working properly is “have you tried turning if off and turning it on again”? This allows your computer to restart and somehow, sometimes it fixes the problem. On your laptop, it may go into a low power mode, the screen goes dull and may even slow down a little if the battery is running low. Just like your laptop needs power to work properly, so does your hearing aids.
The first thing to check if your hearing aid isn’t working properly is to replace the battery. When you take the sticker off the battery, allowing it to sit for a few minutes before putting it into your hearing aid allows the air to reach the materials inside of the battery to “activate” it.
Batteries in hearing aids can last between 3-10 days. Some hearing aids make a small beeping sound or a voice prompt when the battery is low & it’s important to change your battery as soon as possible when you hear that beeping so you can continue to hear well.
We recommend that you either turn off your hearing aid or open the battery door to minimise battery drain when you aren’t wearing your hearing aids.
But I have rechargeable batteries…
A few hints on maximising the use of rechargeable batteries & to make sure they’re charging properly:
- Plug your recharging station into a power point.
- Don’t plug your recharging station into a laptop/computer because they’ll stop charging when the laptop/computer goes into hibernation mode.
- Put your hearing aids in the charger every night.
- When your hearing aids are in the charger, the lights should be flashing green – this shows that they’re charging. If the lights are solid green, your hearing aids are fully charged.
Think of it like traffic lights, green = go and red = stop. So if the lights are red, your hearing aids aren’t charging. - Rechargeable batteries should be replaced every 6- 12 months.
Oh no, I have no sound, not even the start-up sound & I’ve replaced the battery!
My hearing aid is quieter than it was, has something changed?
Don’t panic! There may be an easy solution to both of these things and it’s something you can do at home. It’s something my Grandma with arthritis was able to do.
One of the most common causes we find for a hearing aid that has stopped working is wax build up in the filter. It’s not that the hearing has actually stopped working, just that sound can’t get past the filter because it’s blocked. Picture filling up the holes of a kitchen strainer with playdough, the water won’t go through when you pour pasta into it because it’s blocked – it’s a similar thing but with sound.
Changing the filters on your hearing aid may fix your problem and there’s no need to be afraid of changing a filter as it’s easy to do. Simply insert the blank end of the replacement stick into the old filter and gently pull up. Then swivel the stick and replace with the new one by gently pushing straight down. As easy as one, two, three. Throw the old dirty filter away so there is no chance of mixing it up later.
All of our staff at Hearing Sense can show you how to change your filter if you’re not sure what to do and filters are available from all of our clinics. We also have a helpful video of Kelly changing a filter which we are delighted to email to you if you need.
What if I’ve changed the battery, my filter is clean & there’s still no sound?
If you’ve changed the battery and replaced the filter of your hearing aid & it’s still not working, it’s worth a trip into one of our clinics so our friendly staff can have a look at it for you. We have tools and spare parts available for our staff to use in our clinic that you are unlikely to have available at home.
It’s summer, I’m hot and am sweating. Surely that won’t affect my hearing aids or will it?
Like all electrical products, hearing aids don’t like a lot of moisture. If you sweat a lot during summer you may need a dehumidifying box for storage of your hearing aids. They’re designed to safely remove moisture that can corrode the battery area and inside your hearing aid. These are available from our clinics and our staff can discuss their easy use with you. Another helpful tip is if you know you are perspiring a lot, remove your aid and remove the battery. Wipe it down with a tissue to avoid corrosion. You can also wipe on the top of the aid if it sits behind your ear with sweaty hair which may drip into the microphone holes.
The main sign that moisture may be affecting your aid is intermittency. The aids switches off for now reason then comes back on. This is moisture interrupting the electronic components and when it dries out, the aid suddenly switches on or start up music will play. Simply bring your aid into the clinic and we can have a look at it for you.
Do you know when you shouldn’t wear your hearing aids?
It’s recommended to not wear your hearing aids:
- In the shower, sauna, spa or bath
- When swimming
- When using a hair dryer
- While using hair spray – use hair products first and then put on your hearing aids.
These are some tips of how you can look after your hearing aids at home, of course it’s our pleasure to serve you if you’re passing by one of our clinics and you would like us to do a clean & check on your hearing aids.
