Your hearing aids are precious devices that keep you connected to the world around you. They’re imperative for maintaining your social relationships, improving your overall health and keeping you safe. Because they’re so vital to your quality of life, you want to make sure they’re in peak working condition at all times. When issues arise—and issues are inevitable with delicate pieces of technology that you use on a daily basis—you may be wondering if the issue is fixable, or if it’s something that requires a new set of hearing aids.
Things We Can Fix
Our in-office hearing aid repair center can help with many common hearing aid issues. In fact, if you bring your hearing aids in for regular tune-ups and service appointments, we may be able to keep ahead of many common issues that would necessitate a replacement, extending the life of your hearing aids.
Some issues we can fix include:
- Fitting issues, such as your hearing aid falling out frequently. This may mean you need new custom earmolds or domes, which we can take measurements for and order for you.
- Sound quality issues. Distorted or diminished sound quality can sometimes be fixed by adjusting your settings.
- Feedback. Modern hearing aids have sophisticated feedback suppression technology, but that doesn’t mean that feedback doesn’t still happen sometimes. We can check the microphone and speakers for anything that might cause feedback and check the feedback suppression settings.
- Some wear and tear. Small dings and dents in the shell of the hearing aid can be fixed, although we’ll probably have to send them to the manufacturer to complete the repair, meaning you’ll be without your devices until they’re returned.
When You Might Need an Upgrade
There are some circumstances that will require you to replace your hearing aids and upgrade to a new set. Some of these aren’t problems at all, but are standard changes that simply mean your current set isn’t working for you anymore. You should never compromise with your hearing aids, so here are things to watch out for:
- Heavy damage. While we can address some daily wear and tear at our center, sometimes damage is irreversible. Additionally, as your hearing aids get older, the electrical components will begin to wear out and the physical structure will degrade. There is a point at which repair is no longer practical.
- Changes in hearing needs. Hearing loss will continue to progress, even with hearing aids. The settings on your current set may no longer serve you properly, and your updated needs may exceed the capabilities of your hearing aids. In that case, an upgrade is wise so you can ensure you’re hearing your best.
- New technology. Just like how smartphones come out with new innovations every couple of years that get you excited about your upgrade, hearing aids are improving every year. Innovations such as AI sound processing, Bluetooth® connectivity, smartphone apps and faster processing speeds could dramatically improve your hearing aid experience.
We’re happy to talk more with you about how your current hearing aids are meeting your needs and whether an upgrade is the right choice for you. We know that hearing aids are a significant investment, so this is not a conversation we take lightly. But we are invested in making sure that your hearing is healthy and your hearing aid experience is positive. Call us with questions or make an appointment to discuss more today.