Why Is Your Hearing Aid's Sound Cutting Out?

If the sounds you hear through your hearing aid are a lot lower or weaker than normal or if they cut in or out, then you may have a problem. If you've had your hearing aid for a while and it's suddenly developed these kinds of problems, then you may be worried that the aid is broken.

Before you decide to upgrade your hearing aid, you can check it for common sound problems that you may be able to fix. What should you be looking for?

Ear Wax Blockages

Hearing aids sometimes get clogged up with excess ear wax. When this happens, the aid may not be able to deliver sounds into your ear consistently or at the right volume. There may be a blockage in the system.

Before you start investigating the problem, it's worth digging out the care kit that came with the hearing aid if you have one. This kit may contain tools that you can use to sort out wax blockages.

There are various ways to check for ear wax depending on the kind of hearing aid you're using. Sometimes, you can see a build-up of wax in the dome or mould that fits in the ear; some aids have a wax guard under the dome that catches wax. In these cases, cleaning out the wax may solve the problem.

Sometimes, wax goes through the hearing aid into its connecting tube. In some cases, you may be able to clean this wax out; however, if your hearing aid isn't designed to give you easy access to the tube, you may need to have the tube replaced with a new one.

Out-of-Place Tubes

Hearing aid tubes are meant to sit in a certain position. This positioning allows sound waves through the tube. If the tube moves out of place or shape, then you may not be able to hear through the aid effectively.

If your tube doesn't look like it is unusually bent or kinked, then gently try to straighten it out. If this is causing your sound problems, your aid may start working again.

If you can't get your hearing aid working correctly again after checking for wax blockages or tube problems, then your best bet is to have your hearing aid clinic take a look at it. Your aid may just need a good clean; however, if it isn't working because it is old or damaged, then you may need a new set of hearing aids.