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

Still having trouble with your hearing aid? Contact Mission Audiology to schedule an evaluation and discuss further hearing aid repair options.

How to change the wax filter in an AGX custom mold hearing aid

How to change the wax filter in an AGX RIC hearing aid

How to clean the microphone in an AGX RIC hearing aid

How Much Do Hearing Aid Repairs Cost?

Hearing aid repair costs can vary depending on several factors: (1) Whether or not the hearing aid is still under warranty, (2) the extent of damage to the hearing aid, and (3) the cost of replacement parts for your hearing aid.

If you purchased your hearing aid from South Bay Hearing & Balance Center and it is still under warranty, your hearing aid repair costs will probably be small—or even free! Out-of-warranty or older hearing aids that require substantial repair may cost more. Cracked cases on custom-molded devices can be expensive to replace, but in some circumstances, these cracks can be repaired.
 

When Your Hearing Aid Is Beyond Repair

Much like a car, a hearing aid that has accrued enough damage can be totaled. In this case, it’s usually better — on both a financial and functional level — to replace the hearing aid with a new model. But how do you know if your hearing aid is totaled or just damaged?

While it takes an expert to properly diagnose a damaged hearing aid, you can usually assume your hearing aid is beyond repair if:

  1. Your hearing aid is five or more years old.
    Hearing aids have a life expectancy of five to seven years. If you’ve hit that cusp and are experiencing problems, it may be time to retire your technology.
  2. The damage is visible — and looks extensive.
    If your hearing aid has been stepped on, smashed, or damaged in a way that seems unfixable, it may be unfixable.
  3. Your hearing aid has been repaired several times in the past.
    A history of repair means a history of breakage — and history has a habit of repeating. While a new hearing aid may cost more up front, it can more than balance out the cost and annoyance of regular repair.

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?
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 Mission Audiology. 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 Mission Audiology, repairs for devices that are still under warranty carry a minimal charge, if any at all.

Need to Service Your Hearing Aids?

Contact the Mission Audiology Service Center to help restore your hearing aids. Call (949) 207-7877 today!

Service Your Hearing Aids