Can You Repair Hearing Aids at Home?

Your hearing aids are an important part of your life. When a problem occurs, you worry about how long it may take it fix it and how much it might cost. However, most hearing aid issues are relatively minor and involve some simple fixes. Can you repair hearing aids at home? While it may not be possible to “repair” your hearing aids at home, there are several troubleshooting steps to work through that can be successful. Here are some possible solutions to common problems.

Your hearing aids don’t work

First, check to make sure the hearing aids are turned on. If so, replace the battery. If a new battery doesn’t fix the problem, check the battery door. Does it close properly? Is the battery inserted correctly?

Another probable cause is battery corrosion. Years of wear can lead to some corrosion of the contacts. Wipe the contacts with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol. That may be enough to clean the battery contacts.

Check your hearing aid tubing for condensation, which can clog the tube. Also, check your earmold to be certain it’s free of wax and debris.

Your hearing aid volume seems low

Once again the first step is to check your batteries. If the battery is draining, the volume may seem lower as it loses power. Replacing the batteries, even if you did not hear the low battery tones, may solve the problem.

There’s a possibility the volume controls were accidentally lowered. Check your settings and reinsert your hearing aids.

Clean your microphone inlet of any wax or dust. Excess wax can clog the inlet, blocking the microphone from doing its job.

Lastly, reposition your hearing aids in your ears to see if a better fit fixes the issue.

Your hearing aids sound distorted

This problem may stem from a dirty on/off switch or volume control. Do a good cleaning of your units and see if this fixes the issue.

Improperly inserted hearing aids may whistle, distort sound or create feedback. Depending on your hearing loss, you may not hear the feedback. Reinsert your hearing aids to make sure of a proper fit.

Your hearing aids got wet

If there’s a problem that cannot be solved at home, this is it. If your hearing aids were exposed to just a bit of moisture (such as rain), take them out and open the battery compartment to allow any moisture to dry. Sometimes a hearing aid dehumidifier can help.

If the water exposure was extensive, your audiologist may be able to make repairs or the units may have to be sent to the manufacturer.

With just a few steps, you may be able to repair your hearing aids at home. It’s worth a try because most issues can be solved with just minor fixes. But if your attempted troubleshooting doesn’t work, it’s best to see your audiologist to determine the extent of any damage and how best to fix it.