Hearing aids are supposed to be devices that make your hearing better. But, of course, that’s not always what happens. Sometimes, problems with the devices themselves can cause issues that prevent you from getting the most from them.
That’s where this post can help. We explore some of the reasons why your hearing aids aren’t performing as you’d like and what you can do about it.
Improper Fit
One of the main reasons your hearing aids aren’t performing at the level you want is improper fit. If they haven’t been designed specifically for your ears, then you could find yourself running into problems. Often, hearing aids can wind up feeling uncomfortable.If you have a problem like this, talk to your audiologist. They can help you find quick and easy solutions, including taking a new earmold (just in case your ear entrance has changed shape).
Feedback Issues
Another problem you might encounter is feedback issues. These occur when the microphone on the device picks up the sound being played into your ears.Feedback is annoying because it can get loud and occur at any time. However, it is possible.
Reducing hearing aid feedback usually involves going to your audiologist and asking them to calibrate your device for you. Failing that, you may need to update the model you’re using to cope better with modern sound environments. Many older versions were notorious for feedback in loud settings.
Wax Blockage
Another issue may be wax blockage. If earwax or dust gets into the microphone or the speaker, it can muffle the sound you experience.Therefore, clean out your hearing aid daily, or get your caregiver to do it for you. Check that all the inputs are free from wax, as clogging can prevent hearing aids from working perfectly.
Battery Issues
You can also run into battery issues on hearing aids. When cells run flat, it produces a weak or zero sound output, preventing the hearing aids from being useful.Many hearing aids today use alkaline batteries. These are still popular because they allow manufacturers to cram more energy into a compact volume. The downside is that you can’t recharge them.
Lithium-ion is another option and they are becoming more popular. The benefit of these is that you don’t have to change the battery every week. The downside, though, is that they can be cut out sooner than you’d like.
The trick is to find a hearing aid battery trade-off you’ll accept.
Outdated Programming
Finally, your hearing aids can derail you if you have outdated programming. A lot of hearing aids are tuned to your ears as they were in the past, not today.The problem with this approach is that hearing loss can change over time. Imperceptible reductions in your hearing ability can lead to profound requirements for recalibration.
The best way to deal with this is to go to a hearing instrument specialist (HIS) and get them to check the settings for you. They can test your ears and see if everything on your device matches up.
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