The complex balance private hearing aids have always had to manage is to make a very complex piece of technology so small and easy to use that people may barely notice it in their ear.
Typically, the ideal hearing aid should only be noticeable if there is a problem, and ideally, there should seldom be an issue if it is taken care of, regularly charged and a wearer follows the advice given to them by their audiologist.
However, there are times when a hearing aid either develops a problem or does not appear to be working as effectively as it used to. Regular visits to an audiologist will help troubleshoot these problems, but whilst waiting for an appointment, here are some simple steps to take to see if they solve your issue.
If Your Hearing Aid Is Whistling
Whilst far less of an issue with modern hearing aid designs, a hearing aid audibly whistling can be caused by a wide range of issues, some of which can be fixed in a second whilst others might need a follow-up appointment.
There are generally three main reasons why a hearing aid whistles and the most serious of these is that your hearing aid does not have a secure fit.
Hearing aids will naturally have a snug fight, so make sure it is secured as tightly as possible whilst still being comfortable.
However, if it does not naturally fit right, then you may need a replacement fitted shell for your hearing aid. This is often the case if the ear itself has changed size.
Other than this, whistling can be caused by a blockage of the wax filter by earwax. This simply needs to be cleaned off using the cleaning tool you received with your hearing aids. Failing that, you can replace the existing filter with a new one.
Finally, it could just be that the hearing aid is covered up. If you have a big scarf, a hat or large headphones, it can cover the area around your hearing aid, causing it to inappropriately pick up noises.
No Sound At All
Conversely, instead of getting an undesirable sound, you instead hear nothing at all. Besides a full-on malfunction that requires a fix from an audiologist, there are often much simpler issues at hand that might be affecting its ability to aid your hearing.
It could be the case that dust, ear wax or a combination of the two might be blocking the microphone or the receiver tube, so clean it according to the instructions.
Alternatively, it could be a matter of checking the battery. Most modern hearing aids have rechargeable batteries so make sure to put them on charge whenever you are not using them.
On the subject of power, it might be as simple as the power switch not being on, which often happens when putting it into your ear. Simply switch it back on and check if that helps.
Finally, it could be an issue with the volume, which also can be affected accidentally when putting it in your ear.
