Hearing Aid Accidents and How to Recover

Your hearing aids aren’t particularly fragile, but they are small devices, and accidents can happen. Rather than panic when an accident occurs, it is best to remain calm and determine your next steps.

To help you with those next steps, our hearing instrument specialist here at Hearing Associates of Las Vegas has some insight on how to recover after common hearing aid accidents.

Hearing Aid Falls Out And Hits A Hard Surface

In general, your hearing aids shouldn’t be able to simply fall out of your ear unless they are not in properly. However, hearing aids can be knocked out or be dropped as you take them out of your ear.

First thing to do if you have a hearing aid fall out is to stop moving. Your hearing aid likely fell near your feet, and if you take an extra step in reaction to look where your hearing aid fell, you may step on it. As your feet stay still, scan the area until you can visually locate the hearing aid and pick it up.

Your hearing aid should be okay, as it is light and might escape without damage. Before placing it back into your ear, be sure to clean off the casing to remove any contaminants. However, if the casing has cracked, you will need to bring your device in for hearing aid repair services.

Pet Nibbles Your Hearing Aids

We have seen the results of curious pets and hearing devices, from parrots biting through hearing aid tubing to dogs chewing up whole hearing aids. Depending on the level of damage, there are different options we can provide you.

If the damage is restricted to the hearing aid tubing or earmold, we can repair your hearing aids in our office. However, if the damage is to the casing, the hearing aid will need to be sent away to the manufacturer for repairs. We can provide you with a temporary pair of hearing aids while yours are being fixed so that you don’t have to try to get around without the ability to hear.

Should your pet have completely destroyed your hearing aids, we will check to see if your hearing aids are still under warranty. Most hearing aid manufacturers offer one full replacement of your hearing aids as long as they are under warranty, so we can put in a replacement order for you. If your hearing aids are not under warranty anymore, we can help you order a new hearing aid.

As you wait for a replacement, we can also give you a loaner set of hearing aids so that you don’t have lopsided hearing.

Hearing Aid Falls Down A Drain

It is common to take out hearing aids in the bathroom as part of a nighttime routine. This practice puts your hearing aids at risk of falling down the drain. If your hearing aids do suffer this fate, there are some steps you can take.

First, check the U-bend of your sink. Most bathroom and kitchen sinks have a U-bend junction, which is where dropped items often get lodged. It may take some elbow grease and some tools to detach your U-bend. Hopefully, your hearing aid is there, and all it needs is some cleaning.

If your hearing aid isn’t in the sink trap, then it is likely too far gone into your home’s plumbing to save, and you will need a replacement.

Lost Track Of Hearing Aids

Losing track of your hearing aids can be a nerve-wracking experience, but with the right technology, it doesn’t have to be too hard to find them again. If your hearing aids are synced to your smartphone, you can use the associated app. These hearing aid apps usually have a feature that allows you to track your hearing aids, giving you a rough approximation where your hearing aids are located.

If you don’t have connected hearing aids, you will have to search the old-fashioned way, checking the common areas where you take out your hearing aids and where you have been.

Water Gets On Your Hearing Aids

Many digital hearing aids come with a specialized coating to protect your hearing aids from incidental contact with water. After water has made contact with your hearing aids, you need to stop and take them out to dry with a soft cloth.

After drying them off, open up the battery doors and allow your hearing aids to air dry for a couple of hours. Never use things like hair dryers or other heat-creating devices as these can seriously damage your hearing aids.

Should your hearing aids be unsalvageable, a full replacement is necessary. Hopefully, your hearing aids are still under warranty.

Get Your Hearing Aids Repaired In Las Vegas

If you need hearing aid repairs or other hearing-related services, you can always contact Hearing Associates of Las Vegas for assistance. We will do our best to repair your hearing aids or provide you with options if they are beyond fixing.