Hearing aids are complex pieces of technology. And while they have a lifespan of four to six years, it is possible they will require repairs from time to time. There are a number of things you can do to help increase the longevity and operation of your device, some of which your audiologist will go over with you during your hearing aid fitting. From caring properly for your hearing aids to a few simple troubleshooting steps at home, there are a variety of different things you can do to help avoid hearing aid repairs.
Clean your hearing aids regularly
The first step to avoiding hearing aid repairs is prevention. Make it a point to regularly clean your device following the instructions given by your audiologist. Cleaning and maintaining your hearing aids doesn’t have to be a timely process, especially if you make it a daily habit to remove earwax, debris and dust from the different components. Just keeping these particles off of your devices will go a long way in keeping it in optimal shape.
Now, when the time comes and your hearing aid stops working or loses its effectiveness, inspect it closely. Are any parts of the hearing aid clogged? A quick clean can resolve several issues with a malfunctioning hearing aid. Have you accidentally changed the settings? This happens more often than you think, so always make sure your device is at least on default volume settings. And lastly, did the batteries die? It’s a simple enough solution that it is worth checking, at least before taking it to your audiologist for hearing aid repairs.
Getting your hearing aids repaired
If you’ve exhausted all troubleshooting and maintenance steps and your device is still malfunctioning, schedule a visit to have your audiologist check for hearing aid repairs. Audiologists are familiar and trained to deal with many hearing aid issues, so there’s a good chance your device can be fixed at the office in a short amount of time. In the event your hearing aid has a larger issue, like a disturbance in the internal wiring or electrical components, your audiologist may have to send your device to the manufacturer to complete repairs.
Many hearing aids come with a warranty when you purchase them. Make sure you check with your audiologist to discuss if your policy is still covered or if you’ll have to pay for the hearing aid repairs to be completed.
Talk to your audiologist
While it’s not convenient, hearing aids require repairs from time to time. While good care and maintenance should help decrease the need for trips to the audiologist, you’ll be surprised how much can be fixed in-house. If you’ve worked through the troubleshooting steps above, cared for your device properly and are still experiencing difficulties, don’t hesitate to contact your audiologist and have them check for any necessary hearing aid repairs.