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- $Unique_ID{BRK02418}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{What Can Be Done About Hearing Aid Failure?}
- $Subject{hearing aid dead battery sense senses hear aids repair repairs fix
- fixed fixing electronic sound ear piece ears pieces}
- $Volume{F-21}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1992,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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-
- What Can Be Done About Hearing Aid Failure?
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-
- QUESTION: I have been wearing a hearing aid for some time, but I am now
- having trouble with it and the dealer in the town I just moved to. Every so
- often, as much as once a month, the things stops working and I take it for a
- checkup. The dealer takes it in the back for a minute or two, returns with it
- in working order, and charges me a fee. When I ask him what was wrong he just
- smiles, and tells me that it is fine now. Is this ethical behavior?
- Shouldn't I be told what was fixed? Can you help me?
-
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-
- ANSWER: It is pretty hard to answer a question on ethics without all the
- facts, and I am as much in the dark as to the cause of your hearing aid
- problems as you are. It is certain, however, that you should seek the
- assistance of another dealer, obtaining both a second opinion, and perhaps a
- more congenial atmosphere.
- More important perhaps is to understand a bit about trouble shooting your
- own hearing aid, and preventing these problems. Perhaps the most common cause
- of trouble is a dead battery followed by replacing it with a new one, but
- putting the new battery in the aid upside down. If necessary use a magnifying
- glass to check that the position of the battery is correct. Check the ear
- piece frequently. The small hole through the center can easily fill with ear
- wax, which must be carefully removed using a small wire pick or tool that can
- be obtained from most any dealer. These simple steps may be enough to keep
- your dealer visits to a minimum.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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