When Your Hearing Aid Needs Repair or Adjustment

Hearing aids work hard every day in one of the toughest environments imaginable, which is inside your ear canal. Warmth, moisture, earwax, and daily wear all take their toll. When something doesn't feel quite right, you're far from alone, and the fix is often simpler than you'd expect.

Most issues can be sorted quickly, and you don't need to go back to wherever you bought the device. At Nathan Gluck Hearing Care, we repair and adjust hearing aids from all manufacturers, including NHS aids.

Signs Something Isn't Right

Some problems are hard to miss. The device stops working entirely, or the sound cuts in and out unpredictably. Others creep up more gradually, which makes them easier to dismiss.

If your hearing aid feels less effective than it used to, that's worth paying attention to. It doesn't always mean the device is failing because your hearing itself may have shifted slightly, which is completely normal over time. Regular adjustments keep your aids matched to where your hearing actually is now, not where it was a year or two ago.

Other things to watch for:

• Muffled, tinny, or distorted sound
• Whistling or feedback that's new
• The device feeling loose or uncomfortable
• Battery life dropping noticeably
• Straining more than usual to follow conversations

Any one of these is a good reason to come in.

The Usual Suspect Is Earwax

It's not the most glamorous topic, but earwax causes more hearing aid problems than almost anything else. The microphone and speaker sit close to the ear canal, and over time wax finds its way in. It can block the sound outlet or clog the wax guard, often without you realising it's happening.

Wax guards are designed to catch exactly this. Most people should replace them every four to six weeks as routine maintenance. If yours haven't been changed in a while, that's the first thing we'll check.

Moisture is the other big culprit. Humidity from daily wear, perspiration, or getting caught in the rain can affect internal components over time. Storing your aids properly overnight and getting them professionally cleaned every so often makes a real difference.

What Happens When You Come In

We start with a quick chat. We want to understand what's changed, specifically when you noticed it, whether it came on gradually or suddenly, and whether anything's going on with your ears more generally. That context helps us pinpoint the problem faster.

From there, we examine the device thoroughly. We clean it, check the microphone, speaker, and casing, and run through a series of checks to confirm everything's working as it should. The full appointment takes around 30 minutes. If the repair can be done on the spot, we'll do it then and there. If the device needs to go away for more involved work, we'll tell you straight away and walk you through your options. You won't be left guessing.

We Work with All Makes and NHS Aids

You don't need to have bought your hearing aids from us to bring them in. We service hearing aids from all major manufacturers, such as Phonak, Oticon, Widex, Starkey, Signia, and others.

That includes NHS hearing aids. If your NHS device has stopped working, we'll start with the basics, including batteries and a thorough clean. Many aids that seem beyond saving just need a proper service. If your device is still under the manufacturer's warranty, we can also advise on sending it back for repair, often at no cost to you.

When It Might Be Time for Something New

Sometimes a hearing aid has simply reached the end of its useful life, or the cost of repair outweighs the benefit. We'll always be straight with you about that, with no vague answers and no pressure.

If your hearing or lifestyle has changed, it may be worth a conversation about what's available now. Hearing aid technology has moved on considerably even in the last few years, and what's on offer today is very different from even a recent device. But we'll give you the information and let you decide what's right for you.

Getting Help in North London

Nathan Gluck Hearing Care has been looking after patients' hearing across North London since 1997. Our Golders Green clinic is open Sunday to Thursday 8am–8pm and Friday 8am–3pm. Same-day appointments are often available if you call before 5pm, and we also visit patients at home across N, NW, HA, EN and WD postcodes.

If your hearing aid isn't performing as it should, call us on 0800 781 0422. Our team will answer during working hours, and we'll get you sorted.