While hearing aids are built to last, that doesn’t mean that they’re never subject to problems. You’ll find that throughout the life of your hearing aid they’ll regularly need repairs and maintenance in order to work optimally. Below are some of the most common hearing aid problems we repair.
Damaged Ear Hooks
The ear hook is the portion of the in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid that latches around the ear to secure it in place. Because it sticks out from the device, it can easily become bent or broken if the hearing aid is mishandled. Fortunately, this repair is cheap and easy and can be performed in your audiologist’s office.
Broken Tubing
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids connect to the earmold via tubing, which can stretch or crack. Moisture and debris can also cause discoloration and degradation. If the tubing becomes broken or worn out, an audiologist can either replace it themselves or show you how to do it.
Degraded Earmold
Over time, the earmold – which is the part that sits in the ear canal – can stretch and lose its shape. An improper fit can lead to ear pain and poor sound quality. An audiologist can create earmolds for you using casts of your ear that they should already have on file.
Busted Microphone
If you’re having issues with the volume or sound quality coming from your hearing aids, it most likely has to do with either the batteries or the microphone. Purchase a battery tester from Bartell Drugs to determine if you simply need to change them. If that doesn’t work, bring your devices to your audiologist. They can either repair the microphone in-house or send the devices to the manufacturer.
Moisture Damage
Hearing aids contain intricate electronics that can be easily damaged by even a small amount of moisture. If the moisture has simply infiltrated the tubing, it can be fixed easily in-office. However, if the moisture has damaged the circuitry of the device, it’ll likely need to be sent to the manufacturer for repair. Never wear your devices when showering, bathing, swimming or enjoying a sauna.
For more information about common hearing aid repairs or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, call Evergreen Speech & Hearing Inc today.