Hearing aids can change your life, and they have a lot of neat functions. However, they’re not immune to problems. You can sometimes find that your hearing aid isn’t working as it should. The sound might be muffled, or you might not hear anything at all. You could hear whistling sounds or other types of distortion too.

Hearing aid problems may be annoying, but you can often troubleshoot them yourself. Some of the most common issues can be fixed at home, but you should still contact your hearing health professional if these methods do not work. However, if you can’t figure out the problem on your own, it’s easy to get your hearing aid repaired too. Try these steps to start troubleshooting any problems you’re having.

Do a Visual Inspection

Start by performing a visual inspection of your hearing aids. You might spot a problem that’s visible to the naked eye. Potential issues you can look for include damage to the exterior of the hearing aid, damaged battery connection points or a buildup of earwax or other dirt. You can check the batteries to see if they look like they have corroded. The metal prongs that connect to the battery could also be damaged or might need to be cleaned. See if there are any blockages in the tubing or the microphone, which could be causing problems with the sound.

Clean Your Hearing Aids

After inspecting your hearing aids, the next step might be to clean them. Regular cleaning can solve many issues, so try to clean your hearing aids daily. Wipe them with a clean, dry cloth or use a soft brush to remove debris. If this isn’t enough, you can use specialized tools to pick out earwax. Replacing the earwax filter is also recommended. If your hearing aids have tubing, check it for signs of wear and tear and clean or replace it as needed. You can also take your hearing aids to a hearing care provider for a professional cleaning.

Change or Charge the Battery

Battery problems can cause a range of issues with your hearing aids. Solving the problem could be as easy as replacing the battery. It’s important to make sure you get the right battery for your hearing aids, so make sure you know what size you need. If your hearing aids are rechargeable, you might simply need to recharge them. Check that they are connecting with the charger properly and receiving a charge. If they’re not, you might need to get either your hearing aids or the charger repaired.

Check the Settings

An issue with your hearing aid could also be caused by the settings. You might have bumped something on your hearing aid itself or, if your hearing aids are controlled by an app, you might have accidentally selected the wrong setting. Check the settings to make sure they offer what you want, whether that’s a specific program or you need to turn off something like a wireless setting.

If you can’t troubleshoot your hearing aid problems on your own, contact a hearing health professional for servicing and repair. They can help to fix any issues you are experiencing.