|
CHAPTER NINE Problem-Solving and Extending the Life of Your Hearing Aids Thayne C. Smedley, Ph.D.* Ronald L. Schow, Ph.D. *
. . .This chapter addresses how to keep your hearing aids performing and how to spot the cause of malfunction early when breakdowns occur. We also include tips on preventive maintenance to improve hearing instrument reliability and longevity. Remember that some hearing aid failures will be unpreventable and beyond your control. Such failure will result in “down time” on your part and may require a send-off to the factory for repair. Also addressed will be sub‑par performance from hearing aids which, although working, do not function as well as they might. But first, a few words about hearing aid styles. Some styles of hearing aids are subject to more stress and abuse than others, and the approach you should take in troubleshooting hearing aid breakdowns can vary from one style to the next. Reasons for hearing aid failure which are related to a particular hearing aid style will be noted in each section. You need to be familiar with the basic hearing aid styles of which there are five. These styles are described in terms of their location on the ear or body, and for purposes of convenience are identified by acronyms: BTE, ITE, ITC, and CIC (See Figure 6-1 in Chapter 6, page 96). In this chapter, much of our instruction will be directed toward ITE and ITC aids because these represent the majority of styles in current use in the United States. Problems specific to CIC hearing aids will be highlighted because more and more hearing aids are being fit which are of this “deep canal” type. As part of this introduction, a few words need to be said about hearing aid longevity. You may have asked, “How long will my hearing aids last?” Just as hearing aids will malfunction on occasion for reasons described above, it follows that they won’t last indefinitely. This is true even for very expensive ones. For various reasons, cost being one of them, some wearers expect their instruments to last 10 to 15 years or more. Hearing aids that remain in useful service for this long are the exception rather than the rule. In fact, research has demonstrated that the typical hearing aid gets replaced about every five years. Also, some hearing aids are replaced not necessarily as a result of being worn out but due to changes in a person’s hearing or because individuals may desire instruments of improved technology. In any case, you’re well-advised to consider five years as the average life span of most hearing aids. All things considered, proper maintenance procedures will help to extend the longevity of any given hearing aid to its optimum potential. We present this outline of problem-solving techniques at the risk of giving you the impression that hearing aids are fragile, sensitive devices that will commonly fail and require unusual care and worry on your part. This is not at all the case. For the most part, today’s hearing aids are exceptionally reliable and durable. They will serve your hearing needs day after day, year after year with rarely a breakdown. Like your automobile, any number of problems can go wrong with a hearing aid, but for the most part, easy and relatively inexpensive remedies are available. Here are most possibilities. . . |
