It’s important to develop a routine with your hearing aids – clean them every night, put them in the same place when you remove them, take time to thoroughly check them over every few days. The more familiar you are with your hearing aids, the better able you will be to determine if your hearing aids need serious repairs, or if it’s time to consider replacement.

Inspect your hearing aids daily

The best way to avoid problems begins with daily cleaning and inspection. Brush and wipe down your hearing aids daily. Follow the instructions your audiologist discussed with you during your hearing aid fitting.

Clean your ears daily. This will help keep down the amount of wax produced, which can cause a build-up in your hearing aids.

Keep your hearing aids dry. Moisture is the enemy and is the number one cause of hearing aid repairs. Remember it’s more than just water than can damage your hearing aids! If you use aerosol hair spray or deodorant, be sure to insert your hearing aids after you have sprayed.

Troubleshoot hearing aid issues

Sometimes a repair is not necessary. Several problems might be able to be solved at home. The first place to check is the battery compartment. Are the batteries in correctly? Is the compartment closed completely? Do you need new batteries? Some hearing aids can be accidentally turned off. Check to see if that’s the cause of the problem.

If the sound is too soft or too loud, your volume controls could be the issue. Check to make sure they’re in the correct position. Sometimes the controls can become corroded. Turning the volume up and down several times may work any debris out and fix the problem. Also check the microphone inlet and clear away any dirt and debris.

If the sound is distorted or you hear whistling, the hearing aids may not be inserted properly. Remove them and re-insert them.

Seek professional help

If all else fails and your hearing aids aren’t working properly, it’s time to head to the audiologist. Often repairs can be made in the office. These include repairing a loose battery door, reprogramming the units or performing a deep cleaning to remove interior wax and dirt. Your audiologist’s office also may be able to replace damaged parts such as earbuds or tubes.

A more complex repair will involve sending the hearing aids to the manufacturer. If your hearing aids are under warranty, or if you have an extended warranty, repair or replacement likely is covered. If your warranty has expired, many repairs can be made with a reasonable cost. As your units age, repairs may become more expensive and replacement may be warranted.

 When something happens and you ask, “Do my hearing aids need repairs?” a simple check and adjustment often can fix the problem. If that doesn’t work, your audiologist is available to help determine the degree of repairs necessary and assist you in determining the best course of action.