What Can You Do When Your Hearing Aid Stops Functioning?

Hearing aids follow Murphy’s Rules of Reasoning. That is, when something is going to go wrong, it will happen at the most inopportunetime. However, there are some simple things you can do when your hearing aid doesn’t seem to work properly.

The most common reason a hearing aid will not work is that it’s plugged with earwax or other debris. A plug of wax will prevent the sound from escaping from the speaker port of an in-the-ear aid or the earmold of a behind-the-ear aid, and you’ll think the aid is dead.  However, you can remove the wax plug with the brush or wax loop that came with your hearing aids. If you don’t have cleaning tools, you can use the pointed end of a straight pin to gently dig the wax out.

For those of you who have in-the-ear hearing aids that have wax guard filters installed, the cleaning process is slightly different. The filters are the tiny white plugs that fit into the end of the hearing aid that you insert into your ear canal. Replacement filters are in a 2-inch by 3-inch white or gray packet. When you snap open the top of the packet, you’ll find some black sticks.

Remove one of the sticks and you’ll notice a small white piece on the tip. This is the replacement filter. Take out the old filter with the flattened end of the black stick by pushing it into the old filter and pulling it straight out of the aid. Then, flip over the stick and gently slide the replacement filter into the spot the plugged filter occupied. Usually, this is all that it takes to get your instrument functioning again.

For behind-the-ear users, the problem is often a moisture plug inside of the tubing where the tube inserts into the earmold. You can break the moisture bubble by holding the upper portion of the aid firmly where the earmold tubing attaches to your instrument. Shake it two or three times, as if you were shaking down an old-fashioned thermometer. This force will usually break the moisture bubble and you’ll be back in business.

Of course, if these remedies don’t work, please call our office. We’re always ready to help.

Will you be completely satisfied with your hearing aids?

Today’s state-of-the-art technology allows every person who can benefit from hearing aids to experience great results. Below is an example of what our patients routinely tell us. (This patient is a film director.)

“Simon and his wife were astounded at how well he could understand speech in quiet and in a variety of background noises. At his first follow-up session, he reported that he no longer had to rely on his assistants to fill him in about happenings at work. He was able to understand everything at home, on television and even had no difficulties when attending a loud concert in a closed arena. Life has completely transformed for this gentleman. He has become more productive on the job, his stress level has virtually disappeared and he makes life easier for those around him.” Jeff Grama, M.A., Audiologist

If you have recently purchased hearing aids, perhaps you are enjoying a similar experience. On the other hand, many people are not completely satisfied with the hearing instruments they purchase. In some cases, hearing aids end up in the drawer gathering dust. This is such a shame because, given the tremendous recent advancements in hearing aid technology, there is no excuse not to receive wonderful results. IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING PURCHASING HEARING AIDS BUT ARE AFRAID YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE OUTCOME, CHOOSING THE RIGHT HEARING PROFESSIONAL WILL MAKE AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE. Here are the two situations that should never occur, but sadly happen too often:

The wrong hearing aids 

The hearing professional must work with a variety of manufacturers. This is because every person’s hearing problem is unique and each hearing aid model offers distinct features and capabilities. The competent audiologist chooses from a wide range of products will select the appropriate instruments. Some hearing professionals limit themselves to one brand to gain access to volume discounts. This is not in your best interest.

Improperly Fitted Hearing Aids

Fitting hearing aids correctly is an art and a science. An audiologist who has fitted thousands of patients is more likely to recognize and solve problems, thereby ensuring a proper fitting while maximizing the potential of your hearing instruments. Less experienced hearing professionals may fail to activate up to 80% of a hearing aid’s capabilities. They’ll provide ineffective or no follow-up care because they don’t know how to solve many hearing aid performance problems.

If you are satisfied with your hearing instruments, we’d like to hear your story.

If you are not satisfied with the hearing aids you’ve purchased, please let us discuss your situation. We’ll probably be able to help you find a solution. What you have to say may help others avoid similar problems.

If you are looking to purchase hearing aids, please share your questions and concerns. We will guide you in choosing a competent hearing professional to help ensure the individual you select will provide you with the level of service and attention you deserve.

Meet Jeff Grama, M.A., Audiologist 

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All material written by Jeff Grama, MA. Copyright © 2012, Hearing Aid Services of Hollywood. All rights reserved. No portion of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means (including e-mail or fax), without written permission from Hearing Aid Services of Hollywood.