Repairing Your Damaged or Broken Hearing Aid

Even if you take care of your hearing aids and keep up with regular maintenance, time takes its toll on all technology, and it’s possible that yours will eventually wear out through the course of normal use.

While replacing your damaged hearing aids may be the best answer in some cases — it gives you the opportunity to upgrade your technology — there are some common hearing aid repairs that you can try if you’re having problems with one or both of your devices. Try these quick fixes:

  • Replace your battery
  • Remove and reinsert your hearing aid
  • Clean your hearing aid using a cleaning tool
  • Replace the wax filter
  • Open and close the battery compartment
  • Make sure the battery compartment is free of obstructions
  • Check your input settings

 

Cleaning a hearing aid microphone

Changing a custom mold wax filter

Changing a RIC wax filter

How Much Do Hearing Aid Repairs Cost?

The cost to fix a broken or damaged hearing aid varies based on a few things: whether the hearing aid is still under warranty, how damaged the device is, and the cost of replacement parts for your unit.

If you bought your hearing system from Amherst Audiological Services and it is still under warranty, your repair costs will likely be minimal — if there’s a charge at all. Hearing aids that are no longer under warranty or that were purchased elsewhere may cost more to fix. Cracked shells on custom-molded devices can be expensive, but in some cases these cracks can be repaired.

When Is Your Hearing Aid Beyond Repair?

If your devices are more than three years old consult with your audiologist. We can advise you concerning repair options as well as potential hearing benefits offered by new technology. If there have been changes in your hearing or you are not hearing as well as you could be, it may make more sense to invest in new hearing aid technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are hearing aids easily broken?
Because of how small and light today’s hearing aids are — and because of how delicate the internal components are — any excessive force applied to the device may crack the outer shell, which is likely to compromise its function permanently. Internal components might be moisture resistant, but submersion can still permanently damage the unit.
Are hearing aids waterproof?
A few hearing aid brands are waterproof, but by and large, most hearing aids are not. Some internal components in some hearing aids are water resistant, meaning they’ll protect against humidity or condensation to a degree. Direct contact with liquid, or submersion, should be avoided.
Does insurance cover my hearing aid repairs?
Contact your insurer’s customer service line to find out for sure, but typically, insurance does not cover the cost of hearing aid repairs. Extended-coverage plans that protect against damage, however, are available for some hearing aids at Amherst Audiological Services. Please call our office to learn more about protecting your investment in better hearing!
How do I know if my hearing aids are broken?
Only device diagnostics by a professional can determine that, but your devices might be broken if you have tried troubleshooting them using the tips above but are still experiencing difficulties getting them to work correctly.
What activities can damage hearing aids?
If you aren’t using hearing aids that are tightly secured, any intense physical activity might jar them loose. Swimming or showering without first removing your devices can also cause damage, as most hearing aids are not rated to withstand water.
Where can I repair my hearing aids?
Our practice can help diagnose the problem with your technology, and we will offer a repair if fixing the device is possible. In many cases, when you’ve purchased your technology at Amherst Audiological Services, repairs for devices that are still under warranty carry a minimal charge, if any at all.