Winners of the February & March Prize Drawings

Congratulations Rebecca Houtman (New Orleans, LA) and Ronald Turner (Salisbury, NC), the lucky winners of our monthly prize drawings. 

Each will receive a talking temperature and time watch.

Interested in participating in our prize drawings? Read box on your left for details.

Feature Article & Links:
Advice for Broken Hearing Aids - by Margie Littlell Ulrich, CCC-A

Most people, when they shop around for hearing aids in order to get the best prices and features, they often don't think about repair services. Hearing aids are marvels of electronic technology; but they are breakable and need repair. In addition, hearing aids often need to be re-made to better reflect hearing or ear changes instead of a costly replacements. A wise consumer will ask good questions before having the hearing aid repaired.

How much will my repair cost? Some hearing aid repair labs offer more than one price for hearing aid repairs. For example, the repair lab that the Mid-East Tennessee Regional Speech and Hearing Center uses, has three different repair options with differing coverage. The consumer can choose how much he or she wants to pay for before the hearing aid goes to the repair lab. They can choose differing options as to what they want the warranty to cover. So, they have a flexible cost schedule to choose from.

What does the Warranty cover? Since hearing aids are electronic, the fee rates often reflect other electronic devices repair practices. For example, some warranty plans will cover any specific repair during a certain period of time at no additional cost to the consumer. Other warranty plans will give added coverage for damage or breakage to the hearing aid such as caused by dropping it or stepping on it. But the length of time that the warranty covers is the most common determining factor in the price of the repair.

How long will the repair cost last? Some repair labs require payment each time the hearing aid is fixed. Some repair labs give six months, one year, or two year coverage so that any additional repairs needed during that repair period is at no extra cost. It depends on the choice of the repair lab which is usually selected by the hearing aid dispenser.

What is the most common cause of hearing aid failure? Ear wax and dirt getting down into the receiver, the part which places the sound into the ear, are the most common causes of hearing aid repair. Most hearing aids come with changeable wax guards today to protect from this common repair. However, some people produce more ear wax or work in dirty environments requiring constant hearing aid repairs. If that is the consumer's difficulty, there are extra protection options available to use on a hearing aid to give additional assistance in this area. Also, consumers need to know that, usually, the smaller the hearing aid; the more repairs which might be necessary.

Can hearing aids be re-built? Yes, they can. As we age, the cartilage in our ears thin and may cause the hearing aid to start whistling or not fitting as well as they used to. Sometimes, when a person gains or loses weight, the hearing aids no longer fit properly. It will take a new ear impression; but hearing aids can be re-made to fit better. Occasionally, if a person's hearing has changed but they can not afford a new hearing aid, a few repair labs will rebuild the hearing aid from the inside out, giving the individual more "power" to fit their current hearing loss. Usually this remake requires a hearing test while wearing the hearing aids and a new ear impression. But this service is often less expensive than buying a new hearing aid. Any brand of hearing aid can be rebuilt.

Our Speech and Hearing Center offers repair services to any make and manufacturer and can mail direct the repaired hearing aid back to the user. However, a wise consumer will discuss warranty repair options with their dispenser before they purchase the hearing aid.

If you would like more information about repair plans and services, please call the Mid- East Tennessee Regional Speech and Hearing Center, 1-423-775-0303. Or send a stamped self-addressed business sized envelope to Mid-East Tennessee Regional Speech and Hearing Center, P.O. Box 258, Dayton, Tenn. 37321. We are pleased to be a United Way Agency.

Margie Littell Ulrich, CCC-A is a clinical audiologist and a contributing writer at HearingExchange. She practices audiology at the Mid-East Tennessee Regional Speech and Hearing Center in Dayton. She is also the chairperson of the Children's Wellness Council of Tennessee. 

Reprinted with the author's permission.