Hearing Aid Repair
Hearing aids have seen major advancements in recent years in terms of water and dirt resistance. While it’s still important to keep your hearing aids as clean and dry as possible, most hearing aids today can withstand a splash or two of water without any trouble. One major advancement in water resistance has been the rechargeable battery. On rechargeable hearing aids, there is no battery door to let moisture and debris into the sensitive electronics inside the plastic shell. This adds a level of protection that can help avoid the need for repairs.
Even with the current state of the art, hearing aids repairs will be required from time to time. Regular cleaning, care and attention can minimize the necessity of repairs, but some repairs are inevitable.
How Do I Know If My Hearing Aids Need Repair?
If you think your hearing aids are in need of repair, give us a call or just bring them into the office.
We can perform many repairs in-house, though in some cases it may be necessary to send your hearing aids back to the manufacturer. If your hearing aids are under warranty, there will be no fee for repair. If your hearing aids are no longer under warranty, we will go over your options with you to make sure that repair is the best choice.
Sometimes, excessive feedback can be the result of an ill-fitting earmold. Ear shapes change over time, especially if your body weight has changed drastically since your fitting. It may be that a new earmold can reduce or eliminate feedback.
Keep Your Hearing Aids Clean and Dry
A major reason that hearing aids malfunction is a buildup of earwax and other debris. This buildup is also harder on your hearing aids, and if left unattended could end up causing damage that requires repair.
You should clean your hearing aids every day in order to keep them working their best. Simply wipe them with a clean, dry cloth. Periodically, a professional cleaning is advised to remove material that has worked its way deeper into the openings in your hearing aids.
Moisture is the #1 reason that hearing aids end up needing repair. Even if you don’t expose your hearing aids directly to water, moisture builds up inside over the course of normal use. It’s important to give your hearing aids the opportunity to dry out each night. Rechargeable hearing aids are allowed to air out in their charging ports, while hearing aids that use disposable batteries should be left in the open air with the battery doors open.
Keep your hearing aids out of the bathroom! Showering in the same room with your hearing aids exposes them to unnecessary moisture, and grooming routines can expose them to hair chemicals and other substances that can build up and cause damage. It’s best to do your bathroom routines in the morning before putting in your hearing aids, and at night after taking them out.