Hearing aids should last for a long time without repairs, but accidents do happen. Or, if you have had your hearing aids for a while, you might find that you are in need of hearing aid repairs. A hearing health professional can provide the answer to this need and make sure that an issue is fixed quickly. But what are the signs that you should consult a hearing specialist about hearing repairs?

Here are three main issues to watch out for.

Features have stopped working

If you are using modern hearing aids, you will typically find that they have a number of features. Your hearing care provider should have explained some of these to you. For instance, a number of modern models have Bluetooth connectivity. Using this, you can connect your hearing aid directly to a tech device like your cell phone or perhaps a sound system for your TV. If a feature like this stops working it is usually a clear sign that your hearing aid does need a repair.

However, before you consult your hearing specialist, you should check some of the basic issues. For instance, you may not have enabled the feature in the settings of the device. If that’s the case, this is usually a simple fix.

Everything seems quieter

It’s possible that you are having issues with the volume of the hearing aids. Again, this can be a simple issue. Perhaps you have the device on a setting for low volume or the batteries need to be changed. Perhaps your hearing has actually grown worse, and while it seems as though your hearing aids are operating poorly, it’s actually your hearing that has changed. All of these are possibilities, however, if you can’t fix the hearing aid by adjusting the volume or altering the settings, it points to something more problematic. As such, you may need to help of your hearing health professional and to arrange for hearing aid repairs.

Usually, if there is an issue with the volume, it’s the mic that is faulty. But again, that can be a simple fix. It’s possible that a build-up of earwax is clogging up the mic and a quick careful clean can solve that in no time.

Whistling won’t work

A whistling sound can be incredibly annoying for hearing aid users, and it’s also a common problem. Why do they whistle? It could be that they aren’t fitted properly, or it might be due to a waxy build up. It could however also be a sign that the hearing aids need a repair for something like the microphone. This isn’t a guarantee, and it’s best to speak to your hearing health professional if you are facing this issue.

As you can see then, there are a few signs that you need hearing aid repairs. Make sure that if you do notice any issues you get them seen to as quickly as possible. There’s no point struggling on with devices that aren’t working effectively.