Common Hearing Aid Issues

As a Detroit audiologist, there are a few key phrases that we hear when our clients bring in their hearing aids because of an issue. Those phrases are:

“My hearing aids are dead.”

“My hearing aids aren’t loud enough.”

“My hearing aids sound distorted.”

“My hearing aids are producing feedback.”

When our clients bring in their hearing aids because they are experiencing issues, they usually complain using one of the above phrases, or something resembling the above phrases. Luckily, all of the above issues are rather common — making troubleshooting slightly easier.

“My Hearing Aids Aren’t Producing Sound”

When your hearing aids aren’t producing any sound, you’ll want to make sure that you do the following to troubleshoot any issue that might be occurring.

Visually examine the hearing aid to make sure that there is no earwax blocking the microphone opening.

Make sure the hearing aid is turned on and the battery is properly placed inside the hearing aid. Also, check to make sure the battery door is secured shut.

Turn up the volume with your remote controller or directly on the hearing aid to make sure that it truly is not producing sound.

Replace your battery or use a battery tester to make sure that the batteries you have in are not dead.

Think about any way that you may have potentially damaged the hearing aid. Doing so might spark an idea of what else could be wrong.

If you can’t diagnose the issue and fix your hearing aid by yourself, consider bringing them to our Detroit office for repairs.

My Hearing Aids Aren’t Loud Enough

Sometimes the audio in hearing aids can be damaged or wear out. That said, many times when people bring in their hearing aids because the sound is not loud enough, the solution is simple — turning them up. Below, we have listed the steps that you should take to troubleshoot any issues regarding the sound not being loud enough.

Examine your hearing aid to make sure that there isn’t ear wax or some sort of other debris blocking the microphone opening or the sound outlet. If you wear a behind the ear (BTE) hearing aid, inspect the tubing to make sure that there aren’t any cracks, blockages, or beads of moisture.

Turn up the volume directly on your hearing aids or with a remote. Consider turning the volume up and down a few times while listening to see if the volume is changing in reaction to your prompts.

Select a different program or memory on your hearing aid. It is always a possibility that you have accidentally switched to a different program than your usual one.

Consider whether or not your hearing may have changed. If it has been a long time since your last audiologist appointment, it might be worth going in for a hearing test to see if your hearing has changed since your last visit.

My Hearing Aids Sound “Funny”

Last, but not least, it is not uncommon for people to call us and tell us that their hearing aids sound “funny.” This can range from people hearing feedback, to people’s hearing being distorted. If your hearing aids are sounding different than normal, consider doing the following:

Visually inspect the batteries for corrosion. Take the battery out, inspect it, and replace it if it appears to be fine.

Switch over to a different program or memory to see if you have accidentally switched over to a channel with unfamiliar settings.

Have a friend or family member look at your ears. Do they seem clogged with earwax? If so, it might be time to schedule an appointment with your ear, nose, and throat specialist for an ear cleaning.

Have you lost a considerable amount of weight recently? If so, your hearing aids may not be fitting correctly — changing how you hear.

Schedule an appointment with your Detroit audiologist if you are unable to troubleshoot any issues with your hearing.

Schedule An Appointment Today! If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, we urge you to schedule an appointment at our Detroit office. We would be more than happy to help you troubleshoot what is wrong with your hearing aids.

At Platinum Hearing Aids, we understand that it can be hard to come to terms with the fact that your hearing is impaired. In fact, many people live in denial for years before finally deciding to seek medical advice about their hearing issues. Because of this, we offer hearing tests in the Detroit-area for those who believe that they might, or a loved one might, be suffering from a hearing impairment.

While it might be a no-brainer to go get a hearing test if your hearing is significantly impaired, those who are only experiencing minor hearing issues might not be as likely to schedule a hearing test with an audiologist. As hearing professionals, it is our suggestion that you seek medical advice from an audiologist regardless of the level of impairment that you are experiencing — even if you are on the fence about whether or not you have a hearing issue.

Continue reading to learn more about hearing tests, how to tell if you might need one, and how to book an appointment with your local audiologist in Detroit.

Check With Your Primary Care Physician

If you ever suspect that you or a loved one might have a hearing impairment, it is important to schedule an appointment with your primary care provider. When it comes to hearing issues, there are some that are preventable and easily diagnosed by a general physician. Earwax buildup, ear infections, and other common causes for hearing loss are often diagnosable and treatable by your general care provider.

If your general care provider can’t diagnose a cause for your hearing loss, they will refer you to an audiologist to schedule further testing.

So You’ve Been Referred to Platinum Hearing Aids…

It is very common for patients that have experienced hearing loss to be referred to our Detroit audiology office. Upon referral, a member of our staff will ask you about your health and hearing history, conduct a lifestyle assessment, and conduct a hearing test to diagnose your unique hearing needs.

Your Health and Hearing History

Most people associate hearing issues with age. In reality, hearing impairments can be experienced by a person of any age — whether they are one year old or 100 years old. Pre-existing conditions can often cause hearing loss — but most people are shocked to learn that a person’s general health can also affect their hearing. Common health issues that can lead to hearing loss are diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and more.

In order to best understand your health and hearing history, a member of our team will ask you:

If anyone in your family has hearing loss
If your hearing is impaired in one or both ears
Whether or not you have ever come in contact with chronic or acute loud sounds
If you have pain, discomfort, or ringing in your ears
Whether or not certain environments challenge your ability to hear

Upon compiling your health and hearing history, a member of our team might be able to better understand the stresses that your auditory system has experienced in your lifetime.

Symptoms of Hearing Loss

There are a wide variety of symptoms or actions that might indicate whether or not someone is experiencing hearing impairment. Some of the most common signs of hearing loss are:

Muffling of sound or speech
Difficulty understanding words (especially in crowded environments)
Inability to hear distinguished consonants
Frequently asking people to repeat themselves, slow their speech, or lip reading when others speak
Needing to use excessive volume on the television or radio
Withdrawal from conversations
Avoidance of social events and settings
Twisting your neck or body to listen
Missing calls, doorbells, or alarms

In short, if you have to strain yourself to hear or increase the volume to hear, you might want to consider scheduling a hearing test at our Detroit office.

Your Detroit Hearing Test

At Platinum Hearing Aids, your hearing test will include several small tests that help our audiologists determine what sounds that you can and can’t hear. In addition, your ear will be visually inspected using an otoscope to determine if there are any structural issues with your ear. Lastly, we will conduct and air and bone test and a word discrimination test.

Once testing is complete, our hearing specialists will discuss our findings and suggest a hearing plan and hearing solutions that could be beneficial to you in the future.

Schedule a Hearing Test in Detroit Today!

At Platinum Hearing Aids, we are excited to welcome new patients for hearing tests and hearing solutions. We urge you to make a list of questions and concerns that you might have about your hearing prior to your visit so that we can provide you with the best possible experience.

We are always happy to welcome new patients to Platinum Hearing Aids! To schedule your hearing test, please contact us online or call either of our two locations:

Allen Park office at 313-381-4810.
Southfield office at 248-304-7772.

We can also be reached via our toll-free number at 1-(877)771-EARS(3277). We look forward to welcoming you to Platinum Hearing Aids, where we are committed to enhancing our patients’ hearing.

Tag Archives: Hearing Loss Treatment

Troubleshooting Common Hearing Aid Issues