Hearing Aid Not Working? A Simple Troubleshooting Guide for Seniors

You put your hearing aid in this morning and something is not right. Maybe there is no sound at all. Maybe it keeps making a high-pitched whistling noise. Maybe the Bluetooth will not connect no matter what you try. Whatever the problem, you are not alone — and in most cases, the fix is much simpler than you think.

This guide walks you through the most common hearing aid problems, step by step, in plain English. We start with the simplest checks and work up from there. In most cases, you will have the problem solved in under ten minutes.

If you are trying to connect your hearing aids to your phone for the first time, our dedicated guide on how to pair hearing aids with your phone covers that process from beginning to end. And if you are wondering whether your hearing aids are the right choice for your needs, our OTC hearing aids guide covers your options.

Problem 1: No Sound at All

This is the most alarming problem — you put your hearing aids in and hear nothing. Do not panic. There are several simple causes and most of them take less than a minute to fix.

Check 1: Is the hearing aid turned on?

Rechargeable hearing aids: Make sure the battery is charged. Put the hearing aids in the charging case for a few minutes and try again. Most cases have indicator lights — check that they light up when you place the aids inside.
Battery-powered hearing aids: Open the battery door completely and close it again. This restarts the device. If the battery is old, replace it with a fresh one (see the battery section below).

Check 2: Is the volume turned all the way down?

It sounds obvious, but it happens. Check the volume button or dial on the hearing aid itself, and also check the companion app on your phone if you have one. Sometimes the volume slider in the app gets accidentally dragged to zero.

Check 3: Is the ear tip or wax filter blocked?

This is the most common cause of "no sound." A tiny filter (called a wax guard or cerumen filter) sits at the tip of your hearing aid to prevent earwax from getting inside the device. Over time, it can get blocked.

Hold the hearing aid up to a light and look at the end that goes in your ear. Does the opening look clear?
If it looks blocked or discoloured, it needs to be changed. Most hearing aids come with a small pack of replacement wax filters and a tool to swap them. Check the box your hearing aids came in — the instruction booklet usually shows exactly how to do this.
If you cannot find replacement filters, your pharmacist or hearing aid retailer can usually help.

Check 4: Is the ear tip inserted correctly?

An ear tip that is not seated properly will not channel sound into your ear canal. Try removing the hearing aid completely and reinserting it carefully. Make sure the tip is pressed gently into your ear canal with a slight twisting motion until you feel a soft seal.

Check 5: Is there moisture inside?

Moisture from sweat, rain, or humid environments can temporarily stop a hearing aid from working. Try placing your hearing aids in a dry, warm spot (not in direct sunlight) for an hour. Some people use a small hearing aid dehumidifier — a sealed container with a desiccant tablet — which you can find at pharmacies for around $10 to $20.

Problem 2: Feedback — That Annoying Whistling Sound

A high-pitched whistle or squeal from your hearing aid is called "feedback." It happens when sound that comes out of the hearing aid leaks back into the microphone and gets amplified again, creating a loop. It is annoying but usually very easy to fix.

Fix 1: Re-seat the hearing aid in your ear

The most common cause of feedback is a poor seal between the ear tip and your ear canal. Sound leaks out around the sides and gets picked up by the microphone.

Remove the hearing aid and reinsert it carefully. Make sure the tip is seated snugly. If you wear behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, check that the tube or wire is not bent at an angle that pulls the tip out of the canal.

Fix 2: Try a larger ear tip

If feedback keeps happening even when the hearing aid seems correctly inserted, you may be using a tip that is too small for your ear canal. Most OTC hearing aids come with small, medium, and large ear tips. Try going up one size.

Fix 3: Lower the volume slightly

Feedback happens more often at high volumes because more sound is available to leak back into the microphone. Try reducing the volume by one or two steps. If your hearing aids still seem quiet enough for conversation, you have found a simple fix.

Fix 4: Check for earwax buildup

A buildup of earwax in your ear canal can cause sound to bounce back toward the hearing aid's microphone, triggering feedback. If your ears feel blocked or you have noticed a gradual increase in feedback over time, it may be time to gently clean your ears — or better yet, have a doctor or nurse do it safely for you.

Fix 5: Check if the hearing aid is damaged

Inspect the casing of the hearing aid for cracks or damage. A crack in the shell can allow internal sound to leak out and cause feedback. If you see physical damage, contact the manufacturer or your audiologist.

Problem 3: Bluetooth Will Not Connect to Your Phone

Bluetooth connection problems are common, but they are almost always solvable at home. Work through these steps in order.

Step 1: Turn your hearing aids off and back on

Rechargeable: Place them in the charging case for 10 seconds, then take them out again.
Battery-powered: Open the battery door, count to 5, then close it.

This forces the hearing aids out of whatever state they were stuck in.

Step 2: Toggle Bluetooth on your phone

Go to your phone's Settings and turn Bluetooth off. Wait 10 seconds. Turn it back on. This clears any stalled connection attempts.

Step 3: Check if the aids are already connected to another device

Hearing aids can only connect to one device at a time. If you have a tablet, a second phone, or another person's device nearby that was previously paired to your hearing aids, those aids might be connecting to that device instead of yours. Turn off Bluetooth on any other devices nearby and try again.

Step 4: Remove the old pairing and start fresh

On iPhone: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices. Tap your hearing aids, then tap Forget This Device. Restart your hearing aids and pair them again.

On Android: Go to Settings > Bluetooth. Find your hearing aids in the paired list, tap the settings icon next to their name, and tap Unpair or Forget. Restart your hearing aids and pair them again.

For a full walkthrough of the pairing process from the beginning, see our phone pairing guide.

Step 5: Update the hearing aid app

An outdated app can cause connectivity issues. Go to the App Store or Google Play and check whether the hearing aid app has any updates available. Install them and try connecting again.

Step 6: Restart your phone

A simple phone restart clears a surprising number of Bluetooth glitches. Turn your phone off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on.

Step 7: Check the app for a reconnect option

Many manufacturer apps have a "Reconnect" button built into the home screen. If you are disconnected but the hearing aids are still paired in your phone's Bluetooth settings, tapping Reconnect in the app is often faster than going through the full pairing process again.

For more on finding and using the right app for your hearing aids, see our hearing aid apps guide.

Problem 4: Battery Draining Too Fast

If your hearing aids are not lasting as long as they used to, or not making it through the day, here are the most likely reasons.

For rechargeable hearing aids:

The battery is aging. Like a smartphone battery, the rechargeable battery inside your hearing aids gradually holds less charge over time. After 2 to 3 years of daily charging, you may notice the battery life shortening noticeably. Most manufacturers can replace the internal battery for a fee, or your warranty may cover it.

You are streaming a lot of audio. Streaming phone calls, music, or podcasts through Bluetooth uses more battery than standard amplification. If you have started streaming more recently, that could explain the change.

The charging case is not charged. If you use a case with extra charges built in (like many OTC aids provide), check that the case itself is charged. If the case is flat, it cannot top up your hearing aids.

Try this: Charge both the hearing aids and the case overnight. If the battery life is still short after a full charge, contact the manufacturer about a battery check or replacement.

For disposable battery hearing aids:

The batteries may be old stock. Hearing aid batteries have a shelf life of about 3 to 4 years. Check the expiry date on the packaging. If they are old, buy a fresh pack.

Store batteries at room temperature. Batteries stored in the fridge or in hot cars can lose charge faster. Keep them in a cool, dry indoor location.

Remove the battery tab early. Zinc-air batteries (the round, flat ones) are activated by air — they are sealed with a small sticker tab. Remove the tab at least 1 minute before inserting the battery into the hearing aid. This "breathing time" improves performance and longevity.

Problem 5: Sound Is Muffled or Unclear

If your hearing aids are working but the sound quality has dropped — voices sound muffled, music sounds flat, or everything seems like it is coming from underwater — try these checks:

Clean the ear tip. Earwax and debris on the tip can muffle sound. Remove the tip and rinse it with warm water (if it is a removable silicone tip). Let it dry completely before reattaching.
Check the wax filter (as described in Problem 1, Check 3). A partially blocked wax filter reduces sound quality before blocking it completely.
Adjust your sound profile in the app. Sometimes settings get changed accidentally. Open the companion app and check that the volume and sound profile are set to your normal preferences.
Run a new hearing test in the app. If your hearing has changed since you last calibrated the aids, your profile may be out of date. Most apps let you redo the hearing assessment to recalibrate.

Problem 6: Hearing Aids Feel Uncomfortable

Discomfort is common when you are new to hearing aids, but ongoing pain or soreness after the first two weeks of adjustment warrants attention.

Try a different ear tip size. A tip that is too large will cause pressure and soreness. A tip that is too small will fall out. Most OTC hearing aids include three sizes — experiment until you find the right fit.
Check for irritation vs. pain. A mild sensation of fullness is normal for in-ear and in-canal hearing aids. Sharp pain or soreness inside the ear canal is not — stop wearing the aids and consult a doctor or audiologist.
For behind-the-ear (BTE) aids: Check that the ear hook sits comfortably over the top of your ear. If it is pressing too firmly, the curve may be adjusted by a hearing professional.

When to Contact the Manufacturer or an Audiologist

Most problems can be fixed at home, but contact the manufacturer's support line if:

The hearing aid makes no sound even after replacing the wax filter and battery
You see physical damage to the casing
The Bluetooth connection keeps dropping even after re-pairing
The battery life is dramatically shorter than when you first bought it

Contact an audiologist if:

Your hearing has changed and the aids, even when working correctly, are no longer helping enough
You have ear pain, discharge, or sudden hearing loss in one ear — these may be medical issues unrelated to the hearing aid
You have worn OTC aids for 30 days or more and they are still not giving you enough benefit — you may need a professional fitting and prescription-grade devices

Many audiologists also offer remote consultations now, so you may not even need to travel. And if you have the Lexie B2 hearing aids, their app includes access to real hearing professionals — a great resource when you need guidance without visiting a clinic. See our hearing aid apps guide for more.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean my hearing aids?

You should wipe down the outer casing of your hearing aids every day with a soft, dry cloth. Remove and clean the ear tips (silicone tips can be rinsed with warm water and left to air-dry) about once a week. Replace the wax filter every 1 to 3 months depending on how much earwax your ears naturally produce. A good cleaning routine prevents most of the common problems described in this guide.

My hearing aid is making a crackling noise. What does that mean?

A crackling or static noise often means one of three things: a dirty or loose battery contact (open and close the battery door several times to clean the contacts), a failing battery that needs to be replaced, or moisture inside the device. Try replacing the battery first. If the crackling continues, dry the hearing aids thoroughly using a hearing aid dehumidifier or a sealed container with silica gel packets overnight.

Can I fix my hearing aids myself, or do I always need to send them in for repair?

Most everyday problems — blocked wax filters, low batteries, Bluetooth connection glitches, and poor ear tip fit — can be fixed at home using the steps in this guide. However, internal electrical faults, broken microphones, and cracked casings require professional repair. Never try to open the sealed casing of your hearing aid to fix something inside — you will void the warranty and likely cause further damage.

How long should hearing aids last before they need replacing?

Most hearing aids, OTC and prescription, are designed to last 3 to 5 years with proper care. Signs that it may be time to replace them include: consistently poor sound quality that cleaning does not fix, battery life that has dropped significantly even after a professional battery replacement, or frequent repair needs. If your hearing has also changed significantly over the years, new aids can be calibrated to your current hearing profile, which can make a big difference in how well they work.