My hearing aids not working, what should I do?

It's pretty much like one morning you wake up and you cannot see anything. It could be that devastating for people who heavily depend on hearing aids to hear and communicate with the world. This article is my reflection on the possible reasons why your hearing aids stopped working based on my experience and your options to fix the problem.

This article covers the following:

1. What is the average life of hearing aids?

2. How long do the hearing aid manufacturers support their hearing aids with service and spare parts?

3. What are the common reasons why hearing aids fail?

4. How can I extend the life of my hearing aids?

5. How often should I clean my hearing aids?

6. What can I do if my hearing aids stop working?

7. Are repair and maintenance included in the warranty of my hearing aids?

8. How do I know the warranty period of my hearing aids?

9. My hearing aids do not sound as before, are they faulty?

10. Is the repair of hearing aids expensive?

What is the average life of hearing aids?

I have attended to patients who have been using a pair of hearing aids for more than 15 years. There is no fixed number for the life span of a pair of hearing aids. The practical life of a pair of hearing aids depends on several factors including the robustness of the built, the way has been used/treated, how they have been maintained (including cleaning) and so on. The minimum life you should expect from a pair of hearing aids in my opinion is about 7-9 years. Keep in mind that just like any other product your hearing aids may need professional hearing aid repair and services from time to time.

How long do the hearing aid manufacturers support their hearing aids with service and spare parts?

Most of the hearing aid manufacturers support hearing aids they sell for about 7 years. That means that it is very likely that they accept your hearing aids for repair and would fix the electronics and replace components of your faulty hearing aids for about 7 years from the date of your purchase. This is a common practice for manufacturer businesses not to keep an inventory of spare parts for legacy technologies beyond the 7-10 years horizon.

What are the common reasons why hearing aids fail?

Here is a list of the reasons how:

1. Faulty electronic - The sound processor and the amplifier of your hearing aids are electronic components that just like any electronic can become faulty at any stage. That's why we provide a 5years warranty with all premium hearing aids we offer. Good to know that we accept repair of hearing aids from all over the UK. Please get in touch to learn more.

2. Flat battery - Most battery-powered hearing aids need battery replacement every 4 to 7 days (depending on the hearing loss of the wearer and the battery size)

3. Blocked speaker/receiver (could be blocked by earwax or by moisture) - Refer to the brochure of your hearing aids or search online for steps to clean up the domes, or tube and the moulds of your hearing aids. If after cleaning they still don't sound at all then replace the wax guard on the tip of the speaker (RIC models).

4. Blocked microphone - There are microphones underneath the little slots on the body of the hearing aid. Regular cleaning is recommended to make sure they are open so the sound can reach them to be amplified. Working in a dusty environment or people with a lot of dandruff could experience a blocked microphone more often, same with IIC and CIC hearing aids which are more exploded with the microphone inlet being blocked with skin flakes and dry earwax.

5. Moisture - Water and humidity are not good for any electronic devices. People working in humid locations e.g. by the water including near swimming pools, docking bays, washing bays, boats and marinas, shipyards, walk-in friezers, steam rooms and leisure facilities can be in trouble when they regularly move between warm and humid areas and air-conditioned parts of the facility. When you move from a colder air-conditioned area to a humid one there is a good chance that humidity turns into dew inside your hearing aids. See this article on ways to fix your hearing aids if they are exposed to water or too much humidity.

6. Body moisture - Your sweat could kill your hearing aids. If you naturally sweat a lot or use your hearing aids while doing exercise then there is a chance that your own sweat finds its way into the speaker unit or even inside the electronics of your hearing aids. Although all of the premium hearing aids are IP68 rated (highly resistant to dust and moisture), you may want to consider waterproof hearing aids.

7. Faulty charger (for rechargeable hearing aids) - There is a chance that your hearing aids are just fine, but the charger is faulty. Contact your hearing care professional for advice.

How can I extend the life of my hearing aids?

Hearing aids are quite delicate so handling them with love and care is step one to extending their life. Mishandling RIC hearing aids could easily damage the wire that connects the electronics to the speaker unit. Regular cleaning (refer to the brochure of your hearing aids, or ask your hearing care professional for regular maintenance of your hearing aids).