Common troubleshooting and handling methods for hearing aids

Common problem 1: Whistling

Hearing aid whistling needs to distinguish between the case of [normal whistling] and [abnormal whistling], as follows:

Normal whistling situation

1) Infants lying on their parents’ shoulders or arms, the ear canal will be squeezed and deformed, the earmold can’t completely close, and the sound leaks out, causing whistling, which is a normal phenomenon.
2) When the hearing aid is turned on, holding the hearing aid with your hand produces whistling, which is normal, indicating that the hearing aid is working.
3) When the hearing aid is worn properly, the parent covers the child’s ear with their hand, the whistling produced is normal.
4) Wax blockage in the ear canal may produce whistling, and the ear canal should be checked regularly to ensure it is unobstructed.
5) After the child has worn the hearing aid for a period of time, the ear canal naturally grows and the earmold is no longer properly fitted, resulting in leakage of sound, which needs to be solved by replacing the earmold.

Abnormal whistling situation

1) Ensure that the hearing aid is properly worn, and the child sits normally, shakes his head, or chews, and there is whistling, indicating that the earmold’s closure may not be good.
2) Blocking the sound outlet of the hearing aid directly, there is still whistling when listening next to the ear, it may be the internal whistling produced by the hearing aid, indicating that the hearing aid is damaged and needs to be repaired by the factory.
3) Whistling caused by cracks in the ear hook or sound tube, or aging of the earmold, needs to be replaced in time.
4) If the adjustment is inappropriate and the high-frequency gain is too high, whistling may also occur. You can try to turn down the volume yourself, or ask the audiologist to reduce the high-frequency gain.

Common problem 2: Noise

Possible causes and solutions:

1) Not yet adapted to wearing hearing aids for the first time – Contact the audiologist to re-adjust;
2) Poor contact of the battery clip – Scrape off the surface oxide of the battery clip with a small knife or clean it with anhydrous alcohol;
3) Insufficient battery power, digital hearing aid has low voltage prompt (beep) – Replace the battery;
4) Volume potentiometer wear, hearing aid failure – Contact the audiologist to send it to the factory for repair.

Common problem 3: Distortion of sound

Possible causes and solutions:

1. Just wearing a hearing aid and not adapting – Observe for a while after adapting for a period of time;
2. The sound inlet or outlet is blocked – Clear away foreign objects;
3. The hearing aid battery is running low – Replace the battery;
4. The hearing aid has been subjected to a strong impact;
5. Oil-based earwax or middle ear secretions enter the receiver, damaging the receiver;
6. The hearing aid is damp or corroded by battery leakage, damaging the chip;

• For the three situations of 4/5/6, you need to contact the audiologist to send it to the factory for repair~

Common problem 4: The sound is too soft

Possible causes and solutions:

1. Blockage of the sound inlet or outlet – Clear away foreign objects or have it repaired;
2. The volume setting is too low or the hearing aid is not powerful enough – Increase the volume, and also have your hearing re-checked and choose a more powerful hearing aid;
3. Battery power is insufficient (below 1.1v) – Change the battery, clean or replace the wax guard;
4. Incorrect wearing method – Take it off and re-wear it;
5. Too much earwax – Go to the hospital to deal with the earwax.

Common problem 5: Not hearing clearly

Possible causes and solutions:

1. Battery power is insufficient – Change the battery;
2. Dirt is blocking the sound inlet or outlet – Clear away the dirt;
3. The user has the volume turned up too high – Turn down the volume;
4. The user’s expectations are too high – Do more explanation work;
5. Not adjusted properly – Re-adjust;
6. The chip is not suitable for the user – Change the chip;
7. The shell is not well-fitting – Take a new ear impression and have it repaired by the factory;
8. There is a fault with the hearing aid – Have it repaired by the factory.

Common problem 6: No sound

Possible causes and solutions:

1. The switch is not turned on – Turn on the switch or close the battery door;
2. The battery voltage is too low or dead – Change the battery;
3. Check if the battery is installed correctly – Re-install it;
4. Poor contact between the battery and the battery clip – Scrape off the oxide on the surface of the hearing aid battery or battery;
5. The sound outlet is blocked – Clean the sound outlet or the wax guard;
6. The microphone is blocked – Clear away foreign objects at the microphone opening or have it repaired by the factory;
7. There is a fault with the hearing aid – Have it repaired by the factory.

Common problem 7: Fast battery consumption

Possible causes and solutions:

1. Poor quality batteries or insufficient power or batteries that have been stored for too long – Change to good quality batteries;
2. Severe deafness, powerful hearing aids, but new batteries should last for more than two days;
3. Some fully digital hearing aids, due to large computing power and the use of class a receivers, consume relatively more power, but new batteries should last for at least two days;
4. In hot and humid summer and cold and dry winter, the battery life is short, but new batteries should last for at least two days;
   2/3/4 are all normal phenomena, and you can consider changing to better quality batteries;
5. There is a fault with the hearing aid, and new batteries are not used for more than two days – Have it repaired by the factory.