Troubleshoot Your Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are highly durable but similar to all electronic devices, you may need to troubleshoot issues they can experience over time. Here are a few ways you can troubleshoot a few of the most common issues you may encounter.

Pairing Hearing Aid with iPhone

You need to pair your hearing aid to your iPhone and may need to repair your device if it later disconnects from your phone. You can do this by following these steps:

  1. Open the battery door on your hearing aid.
  2. On your iPhone, go to Settings then Bluetooth. Turn on the Bluetooth.
  3. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices.
  4. Close the battery door on your hearing aid.
  5. When the name of your hearing aid appears below Hearing Devices which can take a minute, tap the name and initiate the pairing request. Pairing can take up to one minute, be sure to avoid doing anything else on your phone during this time.

When pairing is completed, you will hear beeps followed by a tone. A checkmark will also appear next to the name of your hearing aid in the Devices list. Typically, you need to pair your hearing aid only once which your hearing healthcare provider might do for you.

Once this pairing has happened, your hearing aid should automatically reconnect to your iPhone whenever turned on. But if this does not happen, be sure to repair your device. Your hearing aid should be listed in Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices. 

Changing Your Wax Filter

Another common issue people experience is clogged filters. A sign of this is that your hearing aids don’t seem to be working as well or you can’t hear sound. Wax filters protect your hearing aid from earwax accumulation. These small plastic screens stop earwax from reaching hearing aid components like the receiver or speaker. If earwax accumulates in these areas, it can lead to damage as well as your device malfunctioning. Earwax accumulation can cause sounds to be distorted or weak, delivering the poor sound quality and making it more challenging to hear.

Replacing wax filters (or wax guards) should happen consistently and should be part of your hearing aid maintenance routine. You should check the speaker end of your hearing aid to assess if the wax filter has collected a sizable amount of wax. If the filter appears clogged or blocked, you should change it. You might be questioning how often you should change your filter but that entirely depends on how much earwax you produce. This varies from person to person, some may change their filter every month and others may need to change it every few months.

Wax filters can vary slightly depending on the manufacturer. But most have a handle with a new replacement wax filter on it. The other side has a point on it that is used to remove the old filter. When the point is inserted into the old wax filter, it should connect. Pull it out of your hearing aid and the old filter should be attached to it. You can then insert the new wax filter into your device.

Changing Your Dome

Hearing aid domes are disposable earpieces that are placed on your device’s receiver tube or thin tube depending on the type of hearing aid you have. Domes are plastic and are made in a range of shapes and sizes. They should be replaced every few months, experts typically recommend every 1-2 months. They must be changed regularly to ensure optimal sound quality.
In between replacing the dome, you should regularly clean it. This involves using a small brush or wax pick to thoroughly remove any earwax or other substance from it and your hearing aid.

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

In addition to repairing your hearing aid, and replacing the wax filter and dome, there are a few more troubleshooting strategies you can try. This includes:

  • Thoroughly examine your device. Check for any ear wax accumulation or other substances like dirt or hair. Use a soft and dry cloth to remove all substances.
  • Check the volume settings and make sure that your device is set on a level that is best for you.
  • Check the battery. Make sure they are inserted properly and the compartment is properly secured. Replace disposable batteries with a fresh pair.

If these troubleshooting methods still do not fix the issues you are experiencing, contact us for more support.