Naturally, this happens at the most inconvenient of times. A wedding, an important meeting, the visit from that family member that you haven't seen in years.
It truly is a very frustrating and sometimes distressing situation to find yourself in. Your communication is suddenly and significantly impaired, meaning a rise in stress levels.
So, what can be done to get you back on the air as soon as possible? Here are some simple checks you can do to get yourself back in touch with the world.
Batteries
So, you have checked that the hearing aid is working by covering it lightly in your hands and it still isn't squealing at you like it should.
It seems obvious but one of the first things to check when your hearing aid isn't working is the battery. A fresh battery might solve the problem; remember to check the expiry date on the back of the pack to make sure they are still in good working order.
Mould
If you wear the behind the ear hearing aids, this is another quick check you can do. The mould (the part that fits inside your ear) may be blocked with wax which will stop the sound from getting through.
You should have some cleaning tools that came with the hearing aid. This will include a small pick-like tool for you to clear the wax from the mould. There may also be a long, thin tool as well which you can use for the vent in your mould, if you have one. The vent is the small hole going all the way though the mould; but not into the tubing.
You can wash the mould, but there are a few things to remember. First, remove the mould from the hook on the hearing aid. The tubing should be soft, not hard; if it is, it is time to get it changed. Your hearing services provider should be able to do this for you.
Rust
The battery door is another place to have a peek if your hearing aid isn't doing its job.
Open the battery door all the way and have a look inside at the battery contacts. They should be clean and free of dirt and rust. Take out the battery itself and have a look at the little door it sits in; that also should be clean and free of debris.
If it looks to need a little bit of a clean, use a tissue or the little cleaning brush you may have been given with the hearing aid. It may be wise to take it in for a proper clean and check from your hearing service provider, even if you get it working yourself.
The Hook
The hook of the hearing aid is also something that can stop the sound from getting through if it needs replacing.
Your hearing services provider would be best to check this out for you however, as there are different styles of hooks; some unscrew and others clip on and off. Unless you have been shown how to do this and been give spare hooks, you are best to leave it to the provider.
If you try and remove the hook the wrong way you risk the chance of cracking the casing which would mean it being sent to the manufacturer. The good news is that if your hearing service provider has the correct hook in stock, it will only take a moment for them to change it over for you.
In the ear hearing aids
If you wear the In the ear hearing aids, it is a little more difficult to check what might be wrong.
A lot of the time it is a wax issue simply because the workings of the hearing aid are so close to the surface and therefore close to the wax when you are wearing it.
If your hearing aid has a wax protection system, and you have been taught how to change this, try replacing it. However if you don't know, it is best to take it to your provider and see if they can sort that out for you.
Obviously you can try cleaning the aid as you have been shown, but be aware that you will start dislodging wires and parts if you dig to deep. Then the aid really will need to be sent away for repair.
Hopefully a light clean is all it needs.
These are the basic checks you can do yourself to hopefully get back on the air. Your provider is there to maintain your aid and you shouldn't need an appointment to have your hearing aid checked.
If the worst happens and the aid needs to be sent away you may be looking at around seven to ten days before the aid is back from repair. Ask your provider if they have Loan hearing aids that an be set up to your loss for you to use in the interim.
