Our Hearing Aid Repair Services Allow Patients to Get Back to Living

When your hearing aid stops working, you may be hesitant to buy a new device. Your hearing aid was a significant investment, and you’re not looking forward to spending that kind of money again, even if there are newer models on the market.

The good news is, you may not have to! Many high-end hearing aids can be made to perform like new with a few simple cleaning and maintenance tips—and even if your hearing aid is broken, many repairs can be done for a fraction of the cost of a new device.

Is Repair a Good Option for Me?

Hearing aid repair can save you the cost of replacement and keep your device working for several more years; however, not all devices will perform like new after servicing. You may be able to repair rather than replace the device if your hearing aid:

• Is less than five years old. The average lifespan of a hearing aid device is five years. If your device is starting to fail before then, a hearing care provider should have the necessary parts on hand. However, as each year passes, manufacturers make fewer and fewer replacement parts for older models, making replacement inevitable.
• Does not show any visible signs of wear. If the casing of your hearing aid is cracked, broken, crushed, scuffed, or shows other outward signs of damage, replacement may be the better option.
• Has not been repaired in the past. If you have had your device repaired many times, or have had the same issue fixed more than once, you may simply have a defective device. In this case, it is usually better to seek a replacement.

If your device meets these criteria, you should have an experienced hearing aid specialist examine the device and diagnose the problem. At Collier Otolaryngology Hearing Center, we can clean and inspect your device to get to the root of the problem, fixing your hearing aid with minimal disruption to your life.

What Could Be Causing the Problem With Your Hearing Aid?

Although hearing aids are a delicate piece of technology, they take a beating with everyday wear. The receiver, battery components, tubing, and earmolds can all react negatively to the warm and moist conditions of a wearer’s ear. Our specialists perform diagnostic testing to discover why your hearing aid is not delivering the best possible sound, and can service, reprogram, or reset most top hearing aid brands.

We can successfully resolve many issues with common popular devices, including:

• Dead device. Some hearing aid failures are simply due to dead batteries, improperly inserted batteries, or damage to the battery compartment that prevents the device from drawing power. Part of our maintenance services include removing and inspecting the batteries and cleaning the battery contacts.
• Intermittent sounds. If your device works but tends to “cut out” at certain points during the day, your hearing aid may have moisture trapped in the tubing or have a loose electrical connection causing the device to turn on and off.
• Volume problems. Many volume problems are resolved by professional cleaning and maintenance to remove ear wax and debris from the earmold and wax filter. Other common issues include blocked tubing, weak or broken amplifiers, and poorly-fitted earmolds.
• Feedback. High-pitched whining or whistling sounds may be due to old tubing; if the tube is cracked or yellowed, this is a likely cause. A hearing care specialist can easily change the tubing on your device, as well as check for venting problems to make sure no excessive moisture or dirt enters the device.
• Distorted sounds. Moisture, corrosion, and blockages in the tubing can all cause noises to become muffled or distorted. A hearing specialist can not only clean your device, but clean and inspect your ears to remove excess earwax and detect further problems that may block sound.

You don’t have to live another day with only four senses! To find out what could be causing the problem with your hearing aid, call Collier Otolaryngology Hearing Center at (239) 260-9652today to make an appointment in one of our Naples, Florida offices.