Hearing & Balance Doctors

Hearing Aid Troubleshooting

Hearing Aid Troubleshooting

by | Oct 26, 2021 | Hearing Aids, Patient Resources, Technology, Troubleshooting

Hearing aids have come a long way over the past few decades.

They are now complex minicomputers that not only analyze and amplify incoming sound but can also connect to smartphones and stream phone calls and music.

As hearing aids have become more advanced, there is more potential for problems.

However, most of the problems we encounter at our clinic have very simple solutions that are corrected easily.

Common Problem 1: Battery Issues

Most hearing aids run on a disposable battery. Some now operate using a rechargeable battery.

If a hearing aid sounds dead, one likely culprit is the battery. The first step to troubleshooting a hearing aid is to make sure there is a fresh battery (or that the battery is fully charged).

Common Problem 2: The Hearing Aid Is Plugged With Wax

This is the most common issue we see.

If you know a hearing aid has a fresh battery, but it still sounds dead, it is usually plugged with wax.

It does not take much wax to plug the end of a hearing aid. Often, this can be resolved simply by brushing or cleaning out the end of the device where the sound comes out.

Almost all hearing aids have a wax filter that can become plugged but can also be easily changed. This can generally be changed at home, but our audiology clinic can assist in changing the filter.

Hearing & Balance Doctors Are Experts In Hearing Aids

Our clinic, Hearing & Balance Doctors, specializes in all makes and models of hearing aids.

We can help even if you didn’t buy your hearing aids from us. If you need help with your hearing aids or have questions, please call us today at (435) 688-8991.

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Dr. Ryan Whitaker

Dr. Whitaker joined Hearing & Balance Doctors of Utah in 2009. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brigham Young University in 2005 with his Bachelors of Science in Audiology and Speech Pathology. He then received his Doctor of Audiology from the University of Arizona where he minored in Cognitive Neuroscience (the study of how people perceive sound). While at the University of Arizona, he specialized in evoked potentials, specifically researching Cortical Auditory Evoked Potentials and the Acoustic Change Complex. He gained clinical experience at Tucson Ear, Nose, and Throat; St. Joseph’s Hospital Balance Center; Arizona Hearing Specialists; and the Center for Hearing Impaired Children. Dr. Whitaker was raised in Orem, Utah with three older sisters and a younger brother (who is also an audiologist). His grandfather was a cartoonist for the Walt Disney Studios where he drew Donald Duck and many characters in Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Alice in Wonderland before starting the BYU Motion Picture Studio. Dr. Whitaker is married and has three sons. He is passionate about college football and also enjoys hiking in Southern Utah, reading, and traveling. He has traveled extensively through South Asia including Thailand, India, Nepal, and a church mission to the Philippines.

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