The impact of a hearing aid, or pair of hearing aids, on your quality of life can be truly profound. They are marvelous pieces of technology that shouldn’t be underestimated but, like every other piece of technology, they can experience some issues.
Here, we’re going to look at some of the most common causes for concern with hearing aids, and what you can do about them.
First-time user issues
Wearing a hearing aid for the first time can take some getting used to. For one, the device might feel a little foreign in your ear at first, or it might feel strange, at first, how loud your noise is, or how background noise is suddenly a lot more noticeable. It takes time to get used to this, and most audiologists recommend gradually increasing your exposure to hearing aid use over time, rather than immediately trying to wear it all day.
Short battery life
The life expectancy of the batteries in your hearing aids can differ depending on the size and type of batteries. There are charts that can help you get a better idea of what kind of battery life you can expect, however, if yours aren’t living that long, then there are steps you can take to help your hearing aids last longer. For instance, a common mistake is keeping the batteries inside the hearing aid when using it, rather than keeping them in a dehumidifying container.
Distorted sounds
There are a few different causes of static or odd sounds from your hearing aids. Often, addressing sound distortion in hearing devices is about finding the specific root cause in your case. It might be due to low battery, as mentioned above, but adjusting the settings of your device, or checking its components for a buildup of wax, and cleaning it out, can help you get the sound back to normal.
A whistling noise
A different kind of unexpected noise and feedback can affect hearing aids for a few reasons but rarely is it due to a faulty hearing aid. Instead, it’s often due to the fact that the hearing aid is not placed in the ear correctly, the tubing is loose or needs to be replaced, or there is a crack in the device. Any issues that can cause the hearing aid’s microphone to pick up the sound from the speakers are likely to result in feedback.
Water or moisture issues
If you have been caught in the rain while wearing your hearing aid, or have had your device in the bathroom while bathing or taking a shower, then it can result in some issues with your device. It’s best to take it away from moist environments as soon as possible, to turn the device off and take out the batteries, and to try it by soaking up any visible moisture, then leaving it in a bowl of dried rice to help absorb moisture from within it quicker.
With the tips above and the right audiologist, you can make sure that you get the best out of your hearing aids. Many of the issues above are fixable, so don’t despair if you start having issues with your hearing aids.
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