Quick Troubleshooting Tips When Your Hearing Aid Stops Working

Written By Curtis Wetmore

If your hearing aid suddenly stops working, don’t panic—many common issues have simple fixes you can try at home before contacting your hearing care provider. Here are a few quick things to check that often resolve the issue:

1. Check the Power Source

For rechargeable hearing aids:
 Make sure the hearing aids are fully charged. Place them in the charger and check for the charging light. If there’s no light, ensure the charger is plugged in correctly and the aids are seated properly.

For battery-operated hearing aids:
 Replace the batteries with fresh ones. Even new-looking batteries can be drained. Also, make sure the battery door is fully closed.

2. Change the Wax Guard

Wax buildup is one of the most common reasons hearing aids stop working. The wax guard (a small filter on the speaker end of the hearing aid) should be replaced regularly. Use the tool provided with your hearing aids to remove the old guard and insert a fresh one.

3. Check the Dome and Vent

If your hearing aid has a dome (the soft tip that goes in your ear) or a vent (a tiny hole that helps airflow), make sure they’re clear of wax or debris. Gently clean them using a soft brush or a tool designed for hearing aid maintenance. Clogged domes or vents can block sound and affect performance.

4. Inspect the Microphones

The microphones, usually small openings on the outer part of the hearing aid, can become clogged with dust or debris. Gently clean around them using a soft brush or the cleaning tool that came with your device.

If you’ve gone through these steps and your hearing aid still isn’t working, it’s best to reach out to your audiologist. But in many cases, these quick checks are all it takes to get things working again.

Curtis Wetmore

Curtis is the founder and director of Tidal Hearing & Balance, a private vestibular audiology and hearing aid clinic located in Saint John, NB. He also works part time as a clinical audiologist with Horizon Health Network at the Sussex Health Centre. He holds adjunct scholar status with Dalhousie University where he teaches the vestibular course to second year audiology students. He currently serves as a member of the executive committee for the CAA National Vestibular Special Interest Group and recently obtained a certification of competency in vestibular rehab in partnership with Texas State University and the University of Wisconsin. He has contributed to articles in publications including ENT & Audiology News and the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, and has been involved in research studies investigating the prevalence of vestibular and cognitive impairments in community fall prevention programs.

Next

The Most Common Question I Am Asked as an Audiologist: “How Do I Clean My Ears?”