What are the Common Causes of Hearing Aid Repairs?
Hearing aids are designed with longevity in mind. Ultimately this means that you shouldn’t need to worry about constantly replacing them. However, like all types of tech, they don’t last forever and they can get damaged. The good news is that if they do get damaged it is possible to get them repaired by speaking to your hearing health professional. Repairs are often very budget friendly and don’t take much time. One the rare occasion that a repair will take more than a day, you’ll be provided with a replacement pair.
It’s worth exploring some of the common reasons hearing aids need repairs. If you know the reasons, you’ll be able to avoid them and ultimately ensure that you don’t fall into this trap. So, let’s explore the possibilities here.
Water damage
It’s easy and understandable for people to assume that hearing aids are waterproof. After all, these are devices designed to be worn long term. As such, you might expect to be able to wear them in the bath, the shower or even swimming. While on rare occasions, hearing aids have been designed for this type of use, usually, it’s not the case at all. Instead, it’s far more common for hearing aids to suffer serious damage if they get wet. The problem is that people forget that they have them in their ear at all. Don’t forget, hearing aids are designed to be as comfortable as possible and it seems this does have a drawback. As such, it’s worth getting into the habit of checking your ears before you head for a wash or indeed a swim.
It’s also possible for hearing aids to get wet and thus damaged by not cleaning them the right way. Be aware that hearing aids do not need to be submerged to clean them. Instead all you need is a damp cloth. You can use this to wipe away any excess dirt or ear wax and ensure that your devices are clean once more.
Being stood on or sat on
While hearing aids are built to be durable, they are not designed to sustain brute force. So, if you stand on your hearing aids or your sit on them, there’s a good chance that they will break. Usually, this will happen if the device is not being properly taken care of. When not in use, you should make sure that the devices are being stored in the case that they came with. This will keep them safe from the type of damage we just mentioned. If you are worried that the case isn’t strong enough to protect them, your hearing health professional may be able to recommend other options.
Putting the batteries in the wrong way
Finally, at your hearing aid fitting, your hearing health professional will show you how to fit the batteries the right way. If you don’t pay attention, you could later attempt to insert them incorrectly. With brute force, it is possible to damage the device this way. Batteries should easily slip inside the hearing aid. If they don’t speak to your hearing health professional.