Mainz – November 03, 2026 -- Hearing aids that go silent, fade, whistle or slip out of the ear often have simple causes, and some can be fixed at home, according to Eberhard Schmidt, president of the Bundesinnung der Hörakustiker (biha). Poor fit and disruptive noises are common reasons people stop wearing their devices, even though individually fitted systems enable social participation for people with hearing loss.

No sound usually means a battery problem

If nothing comes through the device, the batteries are most likely empty, shifted or inserted incorrectly. Wearers can check and fix this themselves.

Fading volume can point to earwax blocking the device

Weakening batteries can make sound quieter, but so can earwax (cerumen) clogging the ear mold or microphone. Users can carefully try loosening the blockage with a small brush, though professional cleaning by a hearing acoustician is safer. The acoustician can also replace defective parts.

Whistling has several possible causes

A whistling aid may be seated incorrectly, or the left and right devices may be swapped. A defective ear mold or sound tube can also be responsible. A damaged sound tube needs a professional repair.

A device that slips out may need refitting

Earwax can make a hearing aid slide out, as can a fit that is too loose. In that case the acoustician can readjust the device individually.

Schmidt notes that around 20,000 hearing acousticians work in more than 7,500 specialist shops across Germany, typically supporting hearing-impaired customers over many years.