It's pretty much like one morning you wake up and you cannot see anything. It could be 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:
What is the average life of hearing aids?
How long do the hearing aid manufacturers support their hearing aids with service and spare parts?
What are the common reasons why hearing aids fail?
How can I extend the life of my hearing aids?
How often should I clean my hearing aids?
What can I do if my hearing aids stop working?
Are repair and maintenance included in the warranty of my hearing aids?
How do I know the warranty period of my hearing aids?
My hearing aids do not sound as before, are they faulty?
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 it 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. It is a common practice for manufacturer businesses not to keep an inventory of spare parts for legacy technologies beyond the 7 to 10 year horizon.
What are the common reasons why hearing aids fail?
Here is a list of the reasons how:
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.
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)
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).
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.
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.
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.
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).
How often should I clean my hearing aids?
Daily cleaning of the domes of the hearing aids with anti-infection wipes and brushing the microphone inlets and the speakers is good guidance. For more information about regular cleaning and maintenance of your hearing aids refer to the brochures of your hearing aids. Also, refer to our support page for major hearing aids in the UK.
What can I do if my hearing aids stop working?
Don't panic. It could be something simple. Start with an inspection over:
Microphone inlets - Clean them if blocked
Speakers and the domes - Clean them if blocked with earwax. You may need to replace the wax guard on the tip of the speaker with a new one. Refer to the brochure of your hearing aid for instructions.
Batteries - Replace batteries with new ones.
Suspect to water or humidity? See this article on how to fix my hearing aid if been exposed to water or humidity.
Contact your hearing care provider for help. We do hearing aid repair and service of major hearing aid brands in London.
Are repair and maintenance included in the warranty of my hearing aids?
Yes, you are fully covered in case any repair and maintenance is required on your hearing aids during the warranty period. Please see HearingNow Warranty and Aftercare for more details.
How do I know the warranty period of my hearing aids?
The warranty period of your hearing aids is pointed out on the receipt of your hearing aids. Also, your manufacturer has the serial number and the start and the end of your warranty in their system. Please contact us if you are not sure about the warranty period of your hearing aids.
My hearing aids do not sound as before, are they faulty?
There are several reasons why your hearing aids do not sound as good as before. Please see this article for a full discussion about the reasons behind the deterioration of the sound quality of your hearing aids. If your hearing aids do work but they do not sound as good as before then it is likely that the problem is in one of the following areas:
Excessive ear wax build-up - Earwax can alter the acoustics of your ear canal, and eventually can completely block it. See your hearing care professional for a quick ear examination.
Speaker and/or microphone inlet is blocked - Inspect them and if blocked clean them with the provided little brush. Refer to your hearing aid brochure for cleaning instructions.
Eustachian tube dysfunction (also here) - A cold, sinus infection, soar throat, chest infection and in general any health problem that can make inflammation in your neck and above could clog or block your Eustachian tube. The sensation is very similar to ear canal blockage. It feels like your head is under the water. Hearing aids wearers may mix such issues with a problem with their hearing aids on one side, or on both sides. Such an experience usually happens after a cold or sinus infection. Best to visit your GP for advice.
Moisture buildup in the speaker, the electronics or the tube (in BTE hearing aids). See this article if you suspect that your hearing aids have been exposed to water or excessive moisture.
Electronic malfunction - Call your hearing aid professional for help and support. Send your hearing aids for repair.
Your hearing has deteriorated - If none of the above, then your hearing may have deteriorated. This could be due to other health issues, or simply natural deterioration of your auditory system due to ageing. Nevertheless, best to call your hearing care professional.
Is the repair of hearing aids expensive?
This is a very good question because a. premium hearing aids are expensive, and b. they can easily last beyond their initial warranty period. Based on my experience the repair of each unit of hearing aids beyond their warranty period could be in the range of £75 to £295. The bottom range is associated with a simple repair that can be managed by your hearing care professional and the upper range is associated with electronic faults that require your hearing aids to be sent up to the manufacturer for repair. Almost always your hearing care professional is able to provide an estimated cost or at least a range of repair costs and a quote for you prior to you committing to the repair.
If you have a faulty hearing aid and need advice about the possible cost to get it fixed either book an online free consultation or get in touch with us. We are the official representative of Widex, Oticon, Phonak, Signia, Resound GN and Starkey in the United Kingdom (UK).
