Hearing Aid Repair

Today’s hearing aids are powerful, robust instruments that help us navigate the world in ways we may never have thought possible! They can separate speech from background noise, help with directionality, connect to smartphones to stream phone calls and other content, and even let us conduct telehealth video conferences right through a manufacturer’s smartphone app!

While most hearing aids are high-quality devices that are built to withstand the rigors of daily use, they will still likely need a repair in the course of their lifespan. Hearing aids cannot be completely sealed off from the air, which means they can accumulate moisture and debris over time. Factors that can contribute to this include the climate you live in, your lifestyle, your individual body chemistry, and the maintenance habits you practice.

Hear for You Hearing Aids is proud to offer repair for all makes and models of hearing aids, whether you purchased them from us or somewhere else. If the aids are still under warranty, the repair will be made free of charge. Ask about our reasonable rates for out-of-warranty repairs.

Most repairs can be made in-house in less than a day. Sometimes, a more serious problem may require your hearing aids to be sent back to the manufacturer. This can sometimes take up to 10 days or more. If your hearing aids require a manufacturer repair, we can offer you a “loaner” set of hearing aids while yours are being worked on.

To help avoid the need for repair, remember to wipe your hearing aids with a clean, dry cloth each night when you take them out. If you use disposable batteries, leave the battery compartments open overnight to allow them to dry out.

Some people sweat more than others, whether due to lifestyle or body chemistry. If this is the case for you, your hearing aids may need a little extra help to dry out. You may wish to procure a hearing aid dehumidifier if you use disposable batteries, or a dehumidifying charger if you use rechargeable hearing aids.

It’s a good idea to keep your hearing aids out of the bathroom, in general. Showering generates a lot of humidity which can build up in your hearing aids. Similarly, hair products, makeup, and other bathroom essentials might damage hearing aids, so it’s best to leave your hearing aids in another room while you perform your bathroom routines.

It also helps to keep your ears clean! Earwax is a normal and important part of your ear’s ecosystem, and it is not necessary to remove earwax from your ear canal. This should happen automatically through the acts of eating and talking. It is helpful, however, to wipe the outside of your ears with a washcloth at least once daily. You can let water run into your ear canals in the shower, as well, to help any loose earwax make its way out.

Periodic professional cleaning can also help any set of hearing aids to last longer. About 60% of out-of-warranty repairs are made due to moisture damage, and a deep-clean can remove all the moisture from your aids and make them good as new again. Even if you thought they were functioning well, they may sound a little better after a thorough cleaning!

If your hearing aids aren’t working properly, there are a few steps you can take before you bring them in to help make sure they’re really in need of repair. Hearing aids are sophisticated instruments, and it is especially common for patients to suspect a broken aid in the early days of wearing their hearing aids, before they’re fully accustomed to the way they work. Before you come down to the office, follow these steps to ensure your hearing aids really need some work.

• Make Sure They’re Turned On: It’s not always obvious that a set of hearing aids is turned on, especially if yours are controlled completely via smartphone app.
• Check the Volume Level: Sometimes we might turn our volume down and forget that we did so, or we might accidentally bump volume controls. Do a quick check to ensure the volume is set appropriately.
• Check the Battery: Hearing aid batteries may take some time to get used to. They are quite small, and they have to be inserted in the proper orientation to work. Make sure your batteries are inserted correctly. If they are, check to see that they are still providing power. You may need to activate a fresh set for this.
• Check the Tubing:  BTE (behind-the-ear) hearing aids’ tubing can wear out and crack over time. If it looks worn out or is visibly damaged, this is likely the problem. We can fix this easily while you wait!

If you’ve checked these few things and your hearing aids still aren’t working properly, it’s best to bring them in for a repair as soon as possible!