Troubleshooting

If you depend on your hearing aids to help you hear everyday life better, then you know how important it is to quickly identify problems and troubleshoot hearing aid issues.

Common hearing aid problems

1. There’s no sound coming from my hearing aids.
2. My hearing aids aren’t loud enough
3. I can hear a whistling sound coming through
4. The sound is distorted or inconsistent

How to troubleshoot hearing aid problems

The possible causes for most hearing aid problems can be very similar. Here are some simple fixes you can perform that may resolve any one of these common issues.

• Check that the hearing aid is turned on
• Test the volume. Check the volume is set to your preferred setting and that it didn’t accidentally slip to a lower setting. For whistling noises, try turning the volume down. If hearing aids are too loud, there may be too much sound leaking out, which causes feedback sounds.
• Make sure that the battery has been inserted correctly. If the battery door won’t shut easily, the battery may be upside down. If placed correctly, the hearing aid door should close easily. If the battery is inserted correctly, it may be depleted. Replace with a new hearing aid battery.

• Visually examine the hearing aids. Inspect the receiver tube, microphone opening and earpiece. Is there earwax or dirt blocking these components? If so, clean these components appropriately. Familiarise yourself with the care and maintenance recommendations for hearing aids.

• Did you hearing aids come into contact with water? There may be moisture trapped in the hearing aid. Use a dehumidifier overnight to remove the unwanted moisture and try it again in the morning. Do NOT attempt to dry your hearing aids with extreme heat.
• Could your hearing aids be misaligned or improperly placed? Remove the hearing aid and reinsert it into your ear.

• The earpiece might be improperly fitting into your ear. Try replacing it with a closed tip or dome or a different size. If you have lost significant weight, this may affect the fit of your hearing aids. Your clinician can evaluate the new fit and determine whether you require new earmolds.

• Your ear canals may be blocked with earwax, which can affect the way sound is received inside your ears. We recommend seeing your GP to have your ears cleaned thoroughly.
• Consider whether your hearing may have changed. Have you been attending your annual Battery & Review Appointments with Freedom Hearing? These appointments are important as your clinician will reassess your hearing and can adjust your hearing aids to accommodate any changes to your hearing loss.

Need help with your hearing aids?

If you’ve tried troubleshooting these common hearing aid problems and are still having difficulty, please contact Freedom Hearing on 1300 689 085 to book an Adjustment Appointment. We may be able to fix the issue in the clinic on the same day. If your hearing aids need a repair, your hearing professional can organise that for you as well.