Hearing aids are remarkable devices; however, like anything mechanical, they are prone to breakages. If you have one of the common problems with your hearing aid listed below, here are some simple remedies that you can perform on your own. Remember, though, that if you’ve tried to fix your hearing aid on your own and there are still issues, do not hesitate to visit your audiologist or hearing professional to help test both your hearing aid and your own hearing.  

1. Hearing aid appears to be dead

One major cause of your hearing aid not working is if the battery is dead or only has a minimal life left. If your hearing aid stops working altogether, the first thing to do is to change the battery. Some hearing aid models are relatively small, as are their batteries. If you can’t replace the battery yourself, ask someone with nimble fingers to replace the battery for you.  

Another common reason that your hearing aid has stopped working is that the receiver tube may be blocked. Over time, ear wax can build up and accumulate in your receiver tube. While routine cleaning is essential to maintaining your hearing aid, even the best of intentions can get messed up. Do your best to remove any blockage from the hearing aid and give it a good cleaning. Most hearing aids come with a cleaning kit, so use this to maintain the integrity of your hearing aid.  

If you’ve replaced your hearing aid battery and given it a good cleaning but it still doesn’t work, then it may be damaged or defective. If this is the case, see your hearing professional to help you.  

2. Hearing aid isn’t loud enough

Hearing aids should be loud enough so that your hearing is on par with others. If, however, you find that over time your hearing aid has become quieter than before, there may be a reason for this. As is the case with a hearing aid not working, check to see if your hearing aid has any blockages in the receiver tube. Earwax exists in everyone’s ears and it is natural for our ears to have a build-up of ear wax. Use your specific hearing aid cleaning kit to remove any blockage.  

If there are no blockages or you’ve done a thorough cleaning of your hearing aid and it is still not producing sounds loud enough, then the issue may be with your changing hearing abilities. Over time your ability to hear can reduce, so make sure you see your hearing professional to retest your hearing. This professional can make adjustments to your hearing aid or suggest a new hearing device to use.  

3. Hearing aid performance is inconsistent

If your hearing appears to be normal one day and worse another, then the battery may be to blame. As a battery nears the end of its life, it can start to shut down. If you notice your hearing fluctuate, remove and replace your hearing aid battery. This should solve the problem of inconsistent performance.  

4. Hearing aid sounds distorted or unclear

If every day noises start to become unclear and you need to strain hard in your endeavors to hear properly, then that pesky hearing aid battery may be to blame. Remove and replace the battery and your hearing aid should become more consistent.