Because hearing aids are an investment in your quality of life, it’s important to find the right hearing instrument to fit both your lifestyle and budget. And, after you’ve found the right hearing aid, it’s even more important to keep it clean and in working condition.
Your hearing care professional will show you how to take care of your new hearing aids so they stay in good working order. That said, there could be times when they simply shut off or stop working. Here are a few common reasons why your hearing aid might stop working:
- Your battery is dying and needs to be replaced. Batteries not only depend on what type of hearing aid you have, but also how often you use it and the volume level. Most batteries last between 3 to 22 days before needing replacement. For rechargeable hearing aids, expect 5 to 7 days of use before they need a charge.
- You didn’t insert the battery properly. Most of the time, you need to have the battery installed with the tip pointing inward towards your ear canal. However, there are some hearing aids that require batteries to point downward. If you flip the battery around, it may stop working.
- Moisture can accumulate inside your hearing aid when you wear it in water, such as in the shower or while swimming. Try changing your hearing aid every time after using it in water. The battery may also need to be replaced depending on how much moisture is inside the battery compartment, and whether this has caused rusting or corroded contacts on the battery or on the wires.
- Your device has gone into “sleep” mode. This happens if you haven’t worn or used it for an extended period of time. When this happens, just take out the battery and put it back in, then turn on the hearing aid again. If the hearing aid keeps shutting off, it’s the sign of a more serious problem.
- It’s also possible that you are in an environment where there’s too much noise, which causes your hearing aids to turn off. When this happens, your hearing aids will turn back on as soon as you leave the noisy area. It’s a failsafe many devices have, to protect both the device and your hearing.
- If the tips of your hearing aids are dirty, you might experience hearing aid malfunctions. The best way to keep them clean is to rinse each tip with warm water and soap after removing it from your ear. You can also purchase a cleaning tool that allows you to safely remove any wax or dirt that may have built up.
If none of these reasons above sound like the problem you’re experiencing, it’s possible that your hearing aids have a manufacturer defect and will need to be repaired or replaced.
If you do need to replace your hearing aid or it has been damaged, visit Vancouver Hearing Aid Center. We’ll find the cause of the problem and help get your hearing aids working again, no matter what brand or model you have.