Are Hearing Aid Repairs Expensive?

Today’s hearing aids are very durable and resistant to damage from moisture, wax and impact. However, if you wear them for several years, they will occasionally need to be repaired. It can be frustrating or even unsafe to go without your hearing aids, so it’s important to deal with any damages or malfunctions as soon as possible.

One reason some people delay is concern about how much it will cost. Hearing aids themselves are expensive, and If you do a little research, you’ll find conflicting information about how much various types of hearing aid repairs will cost. This is mostly because the cost will vary depending on where you take your hearing aid for repair and other factors like warranties.

Minor repairs, replacement parts and deep cleaning

Quite often, there are minor problems with your hearing aids, like worn-out tubing or excess earwax buildup. An audiologist can examine your hearing aid in the office and make minor repairs, replace small parts or give it a deep cleaning you couldn’t do on your own. Most of these services will be provided for free or only at the cost of the minor replacement parts and accessories.

It’s still important to take care of these issues right away, since small issues can still keep your hearing aid from working efficiently.

Mechanical defects

Sometimes your hearing aid will stop working suddenly or only work sporadically because of mechanical issues like faulty microphones or receivers, electrical shorts or undiscernible water damage. Mechanical defects can’t be fixed from typical troubleshooting tips, so you’ll need to take your device to an audiologist.

If mechanical defects show up within the first year or two of wear, your manufacturer warranty will likely cover any repairs or replacement parts, with the potential for a deductible if your hearing aid needs to be completely replaced. Check your warranty terms and you’ll know for sure what it does and doesn’t cover under mechanical defects.

If your hearing aid is out of warranty, a mechanical defect could cost a few hundred dollars out of pocket. This is one reason it might be wise to purchase an extended warranty. Talk with your audiologist for advice about whether this is the right option for you.

Major repairs

Next to mechanical defects, one of the most expensive hearing aid repairs is a complete re-casing (the part of your hearing aid that houses its electronic components). Your warranty may cover a re-casing but require a deductible. If your device is out of its warranty period, re-casing can cost hundreds, if not more, depending on the style and model of your hearing aid. The good news is that once a manufacturer’s repair lab has re-cased your hearing aid, you’ll have a fresh one-year warranty if anything else goes wrong.

Don’t be afraid of the cost of repairing your hearing aid. Your audiologist will help you get your device fixed and working well again in the fastest and most cost-efficient way.