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

Ready to Start Your Journey to Better Hearing?

Contact our hearing professionals today to begin.

Schedule an Appointment

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 Thigpen Hearing Center 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?

It takes a hearing aid expert to properly diagnose a damaged hearing aid, but you can assume your hearing aids are beyond repair if:

  1. Your devices are more than five years old. Hearing aids typically last for three to five years. If your hearing aids are beyond three years old, repair needs are likely to pile up, in which case it makes more financial sense to get some new devices.
  2. The damage is visible. Although the damage may not be as bad as it looks, if your hearing aid has been stepped on or smashed in some other way, it may be unfixable.
  3. Your hearing aids have an extensive repair history. If your hearing aid has undergone multiple repairs for the same or different issues, it may be beyond saving. Much like a totaled car, a hearing aid needing that many fixes to be functional may simply no longer be worth the repair cost, and it may make more sense financially to invest in some new units.

A manufacturer’s warranty essentially states that the product should work for as long as the warranty lasts — nothing beyond that is guaranteed. Balancing the cost of repairs with the cost of a new system (and how it will benefit your life) can be tricky, but our practice can help you determine a proper course of action after diagnosing the damage and estimating repair costs.

If you’re having any trouble with your hearing aids, please contact us. We’re more than happy to help you get your devices back in working order, or to help you determine what options are available to fix your broken hearing aid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are hearing aids easily broken?
Hearing aids are more durable than you might think. They are made to perform all day, every day in a moist environment within your ear canal surrounded by wax and skin debris. They are dropped and handled carelessly at times and continue to perform for most people. However, even though hearing aids are more moisture resistant than ever before, they cannot be submerged in water or expected to perform in dripping perspiration for any length of time. Daily wear will create “tear” that will eventually impact overall performance and longevity of hearing aid use.
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 Thigpen Hearing Center. Please call our office to learn more about protecting your investment in better hearing!
How do I know if my hearing aids are broken?
If your hearing aid is not working properly and you are not able to fix it yourself, our doctors and office staff are skilled to evaluate and treat your hearing aids in the office and often times they are repairable. If it is a deeper, internal hearing aid problem, we can advise of your choices for repair as needed.
Where can I repair my hearing aids?
Thigpen Hearing Center offers hearing aid repairs on most makes and models of hearing aids. Our doctors and staff are trained to assist you with in office repairs as possible. When needed, outside repairs through hearing aid manufacturers are also available. We like to assist you in not only repairs but in educating you about prevention of future repairs when possible.