5 reasons to call your hearing care professional

Getting a new pair of hearing aids is rarely a one-and-done deal. There are usually follow-up visits in the first couple of months so your hearing care professional can check to see how you’re doing. 

And after that, there are yearly check-ins. But that’s not the only time to get in touch with your hearing care professional. You can always contact them if you have other hearing aid issues. 

You may have questions about your devices or need them to be adjusted, says Victoria Laurella, Au.D. She’s a regional audiology manager for ENT and Allergy Associates in Staten Island, New York. Or you might notice a change in your hearing that you’d like to get checked out.

So don’t be shy. Call your hearing care professional if one of these situations pops up.

1. You notice a sudden change in your hearing

This is the most important reason to pick up your phone, says Laurella. Let’s say you wake up one morning and things suddenly sound muffled. Or your hearing aid just doesn’t sound right.

It could be a condition called sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL).¹ SSHL typically affects one ear. It happens because there is something wrong with the auditory nerve in the inner ear.² It’s sometimes caused by infections or medications, but most times there is no known cause.¹

If your hearing care professional suspects SSHL, they will likely send you to an ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT) right away for further evaluation. The condition can usually be treated with steroids to reduce inflammation.¹

But SSHL isn’t the only reason why your hearing may seem worse. According to Laurella, other triggers include:

• Impacted earwax³
• A piece of the hearing aid that gets stuck inside your ear
• Fluid inside your ear

No matter what the cause, it’s still important to call. Your hearing care professional can help uncover the cause and then recommend the next steps.

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2. Your hearing aids don't seem to be working

There could be many reasons why your devices aren’t working. Here are a few that may require help from your hearing care professional:

• They have water damage. “A lot of patients get very comfortable wearing their hearing aids, and they forget that they’re in,” says Laurella. Then they hop in the shower or pool. Or you could be working outside in the summer, and the sweat damages your hearing aid. 
   
• The battery isn’t holding a charge. There could be several reasons for battery issues, which your hearing care professional will explore, says Laurella. The rechargeable battery inside the hearing aid may need to be replaced. Or there’s a malfunctioning wire in your charger.
   
• Your devices need cleaning or replacing. Even if you wipe down your hearing aids every night, they need to be cleaned professionally every 6 months or so.⁴ Another possible problem? Part of the device needs replacing. “Those are things you don’t typically do at home that your audiologist would do,” says Laurella.
   

If you’re a member of AARP®, you get multiple follow-up appointments and a trial period to try out your new prescription hearing aids at no extra cost. Learn more.

3. Your hearing aids don’t stay put in your ear

Hearing aids should fit well. Are your devices hard to insert? Do they slip out when you talk or chew? Your hearing care professional needs to know.⁵

There are several things they can do to make sure your devices stay put, says Laurella.

• They can adjust the fit. This can be done by changing the dome at the end of the wire on certain types of hearing aids. Or by remaking the mold if it’s a device that goes inside the ear.
   
• They can give you a refresher course. Sometimes hearing aids slip out because people aren’t putting them in correctly. Your hearing aid professional can show you how, either in person or over the phone.

4. Your hearing aids are causing you pain

Hearing aids should fit comfortably. So if yours are causing pain, pick up the phone. Pain or discomfort can be caused by:⁵

• Poor fit
• Earwax
• Not putting them in correctly

In all 3 cases, your hearing care provider can help take care of the problem.

5. You lost both your hearing aids

Or you lost one of them. Or you lost one of the accessories, like the dome. Or you can't find the charger. You’ll need to call so you can replace whatever’s been lost. Or, in the case of an accessory, to find out where you can get a new one.

Of course, a phone call isn’t the only way to get in touch with your hearing care professional. You may be able to email or send a message through the patient portal too. But calling first will help a hearing care professional figure out what to do, even if they suggest you come in.

Sources

1. Sudden deafness Hearing Loss Association of America. Accessed August 20, 2025.
2. Sensorineural hearing loss Cleveland Clinic. Accessed August 20, 2025.
3. Earwax blockage Cleveland Clinic. Accessed August 20, 2025.
4. How to adjust to hearing aids National Council on Aging. Accessed September 18, 2025.
5. Troubleshooting hearing aids Johns Hopkins Health. Accessed August 20, 2025.

Information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed medical provider. Consult your provider prior to making changes to your lifestyle or health care routine.

AARP Hearing Solutions is available to all AARP members and does not require a health insurance plan from UnitedHealthcare. The AARP hearing program discount cannot be combined with any other discounts, promotions, coupons or hearing aid benefit plans unless noted herein. Products or services that are reimbursable by federal programs including Medicare and Medicaid are not available on a discounted or complimentary basis. AARP commercial member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions. Please contact the provider directly for details. UnitedHealthcare Hearing is provided through UnitedHealthcare, offered to existing members of certain products underwritten or provided by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates to provide specific hearing aid discounts. This is not an insurance nor managed care product, and fees or charges for services in excess of those defined in program materials are the member's responsibility. UnitedHealthcare does not endorse nor guarantee hearing aid products/services available through the hearing program. This program may not be available in all states or for all group sizes. Components subject to change.

Hearing aids purchased in the Silver technology level will receive 1 follow-up visit.