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.

First, if your hearing aids use disposable batteries, replace them with fresh ones.

Clean the microphone and speaker ports using the cleaning tools that were provided in your kit. No cleaning tools? No problem! Give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

If you have rechargeable batteries, put the aids in the charger for 2 minutes. When you remove the aid from the charger, they will be reset.

I Need Repairs

Quick Fixes to Try at Home

  • 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

Video Tutorials

Cleaning a Hearing Aid Microphone

Changing a Custom Mold Wax Filter

Changing an 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 Vibrant Hearing 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. Repairing cracked shells on custom-molded devices can be expensive, but in some cases these cracks can be repaired in our lab for a minimal charge.

If we are unable to repair the aid in our lab, we can send your aid to the manufacturer. The cost of this type of repair is usually between $350.00-400.00, depending on the extent of the damage and the age of the hearing aid, and the manufacturer’s repair should be backed by a 6-month to one-year warranty.

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 four years old. Hearing aids typically last for three to five years. If your hearing aids are beyond four years old, repair needs are likely to pile up, in which case it makes more financial sense to invest in 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.

Warranty Plus: Extended Protection for Your Hearing System

Although your devices should work without defects for the life of your existing warranty, additional technological failures can occur simply because life happens. Extended coverage will protect your hearing system for necessary repairs for one or two years beyond the standard three-year warranty.

One-Year Coverage: $150
Two-Year Coverage: $200

If one or both of your devices fail outside the original warranty, the extended coverage offers additional protection into the fourth and fifth years (which is late in your device’s expected life span) — precisely when repairs are most likely to be needed.

This plan does not cover inflicted physical damage of any sort, accidental or otherwise, including water damage. Gradual deterioration and normal wear and tear are covered as an extension of the initial three-year warranty. Please contact us for more information.

If we repair your instruments, service under this coverage will continue.

If you are interested in insurance that will cover your hearing aids against loss or total damage, Esco is an excellent option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click a question to see the answer.

Are hearing aids easily broken?
Because of how small and light today’s hearing aids are —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. Most hearing aids purchased after 2017 have an IP rating of 68, which means they can withstand incidental moisture exposure.

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 Vibrant Hearing. 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 to troubleshoot 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 Vibrant Hearing, repairs for devices that are still under warranty carry a minimal charge, if any at all

Having trouble with your hearing aids?

We’re more than happy to help you get your devices back in working order.

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