Top 5 Problems with Hearing Aids
1. Ear Wax Its an ugly little substance and it can stop a hearing dead in its tracks. but It protects the skin of the ear canal . Ear wax serves as a self-cleaning agent with protective, lubricating, and antibacterial properties. Without earwax, you may find yourself with dry, itchy ears. So its natural, everyone creates it, for some folks much much more, for other folks less....male or female...its natural, everyone creates it and yes you need it. But thankfully, its just temporary. If ear wax gets into a hearing aid, you can clean it out - with the right tools. All hearing manufacturers have created tools to accommodate for hearing aid ear wax. If you do not clean the hearing aid regularly.....it is estimated that hearing aid ear wax causes 20-30% of hearing aid breakdowns. We have a service for that - click here its $199 per aid. Here are a couple examples of tools, and cleaning the wax out of an In the Ear and Over the Ear:

2. Moisture or Water. Here is a hard and fast irrefutable rule: Minimize moisture in your hearing aids. Do not take them in the rain or go swimming with them. Moisture inside a hearing aid creates corrosion. Corrosion creates faulty circuits. Moisture will kill hearing aid. If you are in southern state where its humid, or you are a sweater...hearing aids will not last very long it you do not minimize the moisture As much as possible This is important for proper function. The way you do this is buy a hearing aid dryer. A hearing aid dryer will help keep moisture from building up inside the hearing aids - its the opposite of a cigar humidifier - a hearing aid dryer will eliminate all the moisture out of the hearing aid and will lengthen their life. One other issue here - Be sure to take the batteries out of the hearing aid before placing them in the hearing aid dryer.

3. The Microphone inside the hearing aid goes bad. The microphone, inside the hearing aid, is the part of the hearing aid that converts sound waves into electrical energy variations, which may then be amplified, transmitted, or recorded. The microphone in hearing aids can last 2 to 3 years. Century hearing aids is in the All Makes All Models repair business. We repair all makes all models. We have seen it over and over again. I do not care what model it is, they have all been into our shop: Siemens, Phonak, Resound, Starkey, Miracle Ear, you name it. The microphones go out about every 2 to 3 years....which is just about the time your warranty expires.

4. The Receiver on the Receiver in the canal goes bad. Receiver in the Canals or RICs account for over 50+% of hearing aid sales today. They are the mini over the ear type with the receiver in the ear. The receiver or loudspeaker is placed in the ear - its a small electronic component. These are the most popular style today - the benefit is that when the loudspeaker is in your ear - its closer it mimicking how the ear works. Here is a picture of a Siemens receiver in the canal looks like

The receivers go bad. They are sensitive and expensive. Since they are half the hearing aid...when these go bad...it can be $150 to $500 to replace the receiver.

5. Tubes and Tips and Ear Molds go bad. Tubes and tips and Ear molds are all made of a non Allergenic Silicone - that is oil based where eventually the oil dehydrates and the Tube, Tip or ear mold loses elasticity. For Open Fits., The tip may start coming off from the Tubing or the tube does not stay secure on the hearing aid. For IN the Ears, the tips may start coming off the casing - and staying in your ear. For Power BTEs and Ear Molds...the ear molds are no longer providing a good seal - and the hearing aid starts to squeal. Another part of the Tubes and Tips and Ear Molds go bad is ear wax. Ear Wax can stain the Tubes and Tips and Ear Molds - making them unsightly. Either case, old Tubes and Tips and Ear Molds or stained Tubes and Tips and Ear Molds - its a good idea to change them out occasionally.