Hearing Aid Repair

Posted on January 18, 2010
Filed Under The Topics | Leave a Comment

Like all electronic devices, hearing aids eventually need maintenance. When that time comes, it can be a scary, and sometimes frustrating event.

Hearing aids aren’t simply another cool gadget that we all seem to be collecting with increasing frequency; they are an integral part of our toolbox to connect us with the people and things in life that we love and enjoy.

So, where do we turn at this critical juncture?

There are two options when you need to get your hearing aid repaired. Let’s take a look at the first, and most common one.

1. Take it to your local dealer or audiologist

If it is a simple problem, such as the speaker plugged with wax or a broken battery door, they may be able to fix it there. If it cannot be repaired there, they may recommend one of the following three choices:

a) Buy a new set of hearing aids.

This is what their business is. This may or may not be in your best interest and should be carefully discussed with a trusted provider.

b) Send it back to the original manufacturer.

This is sometimes the best solution, especially if still under the manufacturer’s warranty. However, the cost can be as high as $350, or even more, PER hearing aid.

Unfortunately, many manufacturers only repair their own hearing aids for a period of 5 to 7 years, after which they will no longer fix them. This reduces the costs of keeping parts inventory – as well as a way to encourage you to buy new hearing aids!

c) Send it to an independent repair lab

This can be good or bad, depending on which repair lab they use. A “budget” repair lab gives them a great wholesale price, but often gets used parts from salvage hearing aids, and hires inexperienced technicians. Another problem is that some of the large, well known repair labs often used by hearing aid dealers pay their technicians just a few dollars per repair at a “piece work” rate, encouraging them to quickly repair as many hearing aids as they can per day.

2. Send it directly to the repair lab of your choice

If your local hearing aid dispenser cannot get your hearing aid working at their store, you may be better off making your own choice of where to send it. This gives you several advantages:

a) You can research and locate a repair lab you feel comfortable with.

b) You can get your repair done for less by avoiding the retail mark-up.

c) You can ship your hearing aid to us at Hearing Haven. Our repair technicians have many years experience with multiple brands, and have been factory trained. Every Hearing Haven technician is paid a well-deserved hourly rate, so there is no pressure to rush to complete a job. In fact, since our mission is to provide a higher quality of life through better hearing, each repair includes preventative maintenance steps to insure a longer life of the hearing aid.

Visit HearingHaven.com for more information on our hearing aid repair service.

Comments

Leave a Reply