Hearing Loss/Deafness Hearing Aids & Technology Tips for When Your Hearing Aids Won't Work By Melissa Karp, AuD Melissa Karp, AuD LinkedIn Twitter Melissa Karp, AuD, is a board-certified audiologist and the owner of a private audiology clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 13, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by John Carew, MD Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD LinkedIn Twitter John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. He is an adjunct assistant professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and NYU Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Angela Underwood Fact checked by Angela Underwood LinkedIn Angela Underwood's extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder. Learn about our editorial process Print Hearing aids are complicated electronic devices; think of them as wearable computers. There are many different reasons why a hearing aid doesn’t work; let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons. BSIP / UIG / Getty Images Your Hearing Loss Has Changed Some patients go to their doctors with hearing aids they think “don’t work,” only to find their hearing loss is worse due to having scheduled tests. Hearing aids no longer provide enough volume to make speech sounds clear when hearing worsens. Sometimes, this is an easy fix and involves reprogramming the hearing aids to the new hearing loss. Other times, especially if has been more than five years, it is time for new hearing aids. Stay in touch with your audiologist and have your hearing tested yearly (or sooner if you suspect a change). This way, your hearing aids can be adjusted to the small changes in your hearing and can keep you hearing well. The Hearing Aids Are Not Taken Care of Properly Hearing aids are small; a tiny bit of earwax or debris can clog them up and keep them from working their best. Keeping the hearing aids clean, changing the wax guards, avoiding wearing them when using hairspray, and using a dry-aid kit are just some of the ways you can keep your hearing aid working well throughout its lifespan. Getting Help With Cleaning If you have vision or dexterity issues that keep you from being able to clean your hearing aids well, most audiologists welcome setting up regular appointments just for a clean and check or are happy to teach a family member or caregiver how to keep the hearing aids in tip-top shape. There Are Changes in the Ear Canal The shape of the ear canal can change when someone gains or loses weight. Ear shape also changes when someone gets older, or has certain types of facial plastic surgery. In some cases, the changes are enough to cause a slit-leak and allow air to flow around the hearing aid, causing a loose fit and feedback. Excessive wax in the ear canal can also cause feedback. This issue can be fixed by removing excessive ear wax or taking a new ear impression and remaking the hearing aid. You Need More Than Just Hearing Aids For some people, hearing loss causes a lot of distortion, and they need aural rehabilitation to retrain their brain to make sense of sounds. There may be an underlying auditory processing disorder, especially if there is a history of stroke or traumatic brain injury. Audiologists and speech-language pathologists can provide aural rehabilitation in conjunction with the use of hearing aids. Other devices, such as FM systems may be very useful for people who have a lot of difficulties hearing in background noise. Your Hearing Aids Were Not Fit Properly Verification is an important part of fitting hearing aids. If the sound isn’t audible or is too loud, the hearing aids may be rejected. Real ear verification allows your audiologist to get an objective picture of what the hearing aid is doing to sound and to ensure that your hearing aids are set the way they need to be. Wearing hearing aids can make a huge improvement in the quality of life for people with hearing loss and the people around them. Taking the time to work with your audiologist, discuss any problems that come up, and getting regular follow-ups to maintain the hearing aids and monitor hearing are important keys to success. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Hearing Loss Association of America. New Hearing Aid Options Are Coming in 2022. Arizona State University. Tips on Hearing Aid Care. Santhanam P, Meehan A, Orrison WW, Wilson SH, Oakes TR, Weaver LK. Central auditory processing disorders after mild traumatic brain injury. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2019;46(3):261-269. Norrix LW, Camarota K, Harris FP, Dean J. The effects of fm and hearing aid microphone settings, fm gain, and ambient noise levels on snr at the tympanic membrane. J Am Acad Audiol. 2016;27(02):117-125. doi. 10.3766/jaaa.15012 Jorgensen LE. Verification and validation of hearing aids: Opportunity not an obstacle. Journal of Otology. 2016;11(2):57-62. doi. 10.1016/j.joto.2016.05.001