Start Here: The Most Common Causes
The vast majority of hearing aid problems come down to one of these four things.
- Dead or low battery — the most common cause by far
- Blocked sound outlet — earwax buildup in the dome or wax guard
- Moisture damage — from sweat, rain, or humidity
- Bluetooth connection issue — the hearing aid lost its pairing with your phone
Tip: Work through these in order. Most problems are solved by the first or second step.
Step 1: Check the Battery
A dead battery is the most common reason a hearing aid stops working.
- For disposable batteries: Open the battery door, remove the battery, and replace it with a fresh one. Make sure the orange tab is removed from the new battery and wait 60 seconds before closing the door — this activates the zinc-air battery.
- For rechargeable hearing aids: Place the hearing aid in its charger and wait at least 30 minutes. Check that the charger is plugged in and the charging light is on.
- If the battery is new but the hearing aid still does not work, try a battery from a different pack — occasionally a new battery is defective.
Tip: Zinc-air batteries need oxygen to activate. After removing the orange tab, wait a full 60 seconds before inserting the battery. Skipping this step can cause the battery to drain faster or not work at all.
Step 2: Check for Earwax Blockage
Earwax is the second most common cause of a hearing aid that sounds weak, muffled, or completely silent.
- 1Look at the end of the hearing aid that goes in your ear — this is the dome or earmold
- 2Check the small wax guard (a tiny filter inside the dome opening) — if it looks dark or clogged, it needs to be replaced
- 3Use the wax guard replacement tool that came with your hearing aids to swap in a fresh wax guard
- 4If you do not have replacement wax guards, your audiologist can provide them — they are inexpensive
- 5Gently clean the dome with a dry cloth or the cleaning brush that came with your hearing aids
Warning: Never use water, alcohol, or cleaning sprays directly on your hearing aid. Moisture can damage the electronics. Use only dry cleaning tools designed for hearing aids.
Step 3: Dry Out the Hearing Aid
Moisture is a common cause of hearing aid problems, especially in summer or after exercise.
- Open the battery door (if applicable) and leave it open overnight to allow moisture to escape
- Place the hearing aid in a hearing aid dehumidifier or drying kit overnight — these are inexpensive and very effective
- Do not use a hair dryer, microwave, or oven to dry a hearing aid — heat will damage it
- If you do not have a dehumidifier, a small container with uncooked rice can absorb some moisture in a pinch
Step 4: Reconnect the Bluetooth Connection
If your hearing aid is working but has lost its connection to your phone app, try these steps.
- 1Open your phone's Bluetooth settings and find your hearing aids in the list of connected devices
- 2Tap the hearing aid name and choose "Forget" or "Unpair"
- 3Turn your hearing aids off and back on (open and close the battery door, or place in the charger briefly)
- 4Go back to Bluetooth settings and pair the hearing aids again as if for the first time
- 5Open your hearing aid app (Phonak, Oticon, Starkey, ReSound, etc.) and reconnect
Tip: If the app is not finding your hearing aids, try closing the app completely and reopening it. Also make sure Bluetooth is turned on and that your phone is not in Airplane Mode.
When to Call Your Audiologist
Some problems require professional attention. Contact your audiologist if:
- The hearing aid makes a high-pitched whistling sound that does not stop (feedback)
- The hearing aid is physically damaged — cracked, bent, or the dome is torn
- You have tried all the steps above and it still does not work
- The hearing aid gets wet and does not recover after drying overnight
- The volume or sound quality has changed gradually over time