Can I fix my hearing aids myself?

Hearing aids are a little bit of tech that is kept in or behind your ear so there is obviously going to be the odd occasion where something goes wrong. This is NOT an immediate cause for panic… there could be something very simple going on!

Why is my hearing aid dead?

There are a few different things that could be causing your hearing aid to be unresponsive. If you use battery powered hearing aids, then the first thing we would always suggest is to pop a new battery in. You should do this even if you think that the battery shouldn’t have run out yet. If you have rechargeable hearing aids and they appear to have not charged overnight, it’s important to check the charger. If any dust or debris makes its way onto the charging contact in the charger, it will hinder its ability to charge. You should check the charger and the hearing aid for anything which could cause the contact between the two to be broken. Once you have tried both of these things to no avail, it could be time to contact your Audiologist so they can check that nothing more is going on.

Why is my hearing aid whistling?

An earwax removal appointment

There are 3 main reasons that cause your hearing aids to make a whistling sound: earwax, a bad fit or erosion on the actual hearing aid. It is very rare that a hearing aid would suffer from erosion so you can more than likely rule this out, especially if your aids are not more than 3 years old. Whistling caused by earwax could either be because you have a build-up of earwax in your ear or in your hearing aid filter. The first thing we’d suggest is changing your filter. This should be done at least once a month. If this doesn’t make a difference, you can book an appointment for an Audiologist to check your ears. If there’s excess earwax, they will be able to remove it for you.

Whistling can also be caused because either your hearing aid dome is not the right size for your ear or you are not putting your hearing aid in deep enough. We would advise that you book in for an appointment with your Audiologist in this instance so they can offer assistance.

Why am I not hearing as well as I was previously?

It’s important to keep on top of cleaning your hearing aids. The best thing to do first is to give your hearing aids a visual inspection. You will then be able to see clearly the areas that need cleaning as well as decide which tools / brushes you require to remove the dirt / debris. You should begin by using a soft cloth to clean your aids gently; do not ever use water or place your aids in water as this could ruin them. After you have wiped them over, you can begin to use your small brushes and tools to dislodge any earwax that may have built up. Once your hearing aids are clean, you can assess whether you need to change the wax filters and domes (if applicable). It is advisable to change these at least once a month to ensure they aren’t clogged up with earwax and affecting your hearing.

If this doesn’t make a difference, it might be time to book in for a service appointment with your Audiologist to ensure there hasn’t been a change in your hearing loss.

We hope we’ve been able to help you fix any little glitches today but if not, you can always give us a call as usual.