Hearing aids can make all the difference to your day-to-day life when you have hearing loss. Once you have your aid and its fitted and working, you’ll experience a world of benefits. But, as with anything that undergoes regular use, your hearing aids may be subject to wear, tear and some faults or damage over the years. There are some issues that are more common than others and are easily fixed. So, what are some of the most common hearing aid repairs?
Ear Hook Issues
The ear hook on your hearing aid is what is going to keep it in place, allowing you to wear it comfortably throughout the day. As you can imagine, this part of the aid is delicate and receives a lot of us, so one of the most common issues that people experience with their hearing aids is a broken ear hook. If it becomes broken, your hearing aid won’t be able to stay in place and will become difficult to use while completing other tasks that require your hands and concentration.
Some simple breaks can be fixed with glue, however, more complex breaks or issues with the whole ear hook could require professional intervention. You should take your hearing aid to your audiologist who will be able to take a proper look at the damage and determine what the best next steps to take are. While it is likely to be a cheap repair, you may need to send your aid out to the manufacturer or a specialist for repair.
A Broken Microphone
All hearing aids have a microphone and, if you’re noticing issues with the sound that is coming from your hearing aids, it’s important to investigate whether it is a microphone fault. A common indicator that you’re having issues with your microphone is that you’re hearing a level of sound that you’re not used to.
By visiting your audiologist, they will be able to determine whether you are experiencing an issue with your hearing aid’s microphone, or whether it’s actually that your hearing has deteriorated and you need to have different aids to help you in day-to-day life.
Keep in mind that – if you are experiencing problems with your hearing aid’s microphone – this is going to be a complex job to resolve and it’s unlikely that your audiologist will fix the problem themselves. Instead, your hearing aid is more likely to be sent out to its manufacturer for repair or replacement.
Wax Build-Up
Earwax is a natural substance that all of us produce. Also known as cerumen, it is a brown, orange, red, yellowish or gray waxy substance that your body secretes into your ear canal. It does serve a good purpose. It serves to clean and protect your ear. The wax attaches to the tiny hairs in your ear passages and serves to trap dust and other foreign particles that could damage deeper structures, such as your eardrum.
However, when you wear hearing aids, earwax can build up on the aid, preventing it from working to the best of its ability. It can impact the sound that your hearing aid produces. Seeing as this tends to be an issue that builds up over time, the change isn’t going to be sudden. Instead, you might just notice slight and gradual changes, or you may eventually realize that the quality of sound on your hearing aid seems to have deteriorated. This could be because earwax is clogging the connecting tube, the part of the hearing aid that connects the device to the receiver. You will need to replace this if it becomes clogged with wax to get the best from your hearing aids. Your audiologist will be able to change this tube for you.
Wear and Tear
Hearing aids are used day in and day out. Chances are, you’re going to get a lot of use out of this tool and it’s not all too surprising, then, that it’s going to experience some wear and tear over the years. An area of the hearing aid that tends to degrade over time is the ear mold. This is because it comes into direct contact with your ear on a regular basis, moving in and out as it’s placed and removed, and consequently wearing down and potentially changing shape.
If you find that your earmold is no longer fitting comfortably inside your ear, it may be worn and need replacement. It’s generally much easier to replace the mold than to try to get it back to its original shape.
If you have any issues with your own hearing aid, don’t hesitate to contact us at The Hearing Center at York ENT on (717) 850-9269. A member of our team will be able to listen to your concerns and guide you in the right direction.
