Hearing Aid Repairs in Marietta, GA
Before you assume the worst: most hearing aids that have gone quiet are not broken. A blocked wax filter is by far the most common cause, and it is a fifteen minute fix. Bring them in.
IN SHORT
American Family Hearing Aid Center repairs and services all makes and models of hearing aid in Marietta, GA, including devices bought elsewhere. We book Monday to Thursday 9:00 to 4:00 and Friday 9:00 to 1:00. Many repairs are completed the same visit while you wait. Devices needing manufacturer service are sent away and we handle it. Call 770-590-8662.
Hearing aid repair services
A hearing aid is a small computer, a microphone and a speaker, worn in a warm, humid, waxy environment for twelve hours a day. Things get blocked. Given what we ask of them, they are remarkably reliable.
Most of what comes through the door is maintenance rather than failure. Regular cleaning and a nightly drying routine will prevent the large majority of repairs, extend the working life of the devices, and keep the ear healthier while you are at it.
What is actually wrong with it
Before you drive over, this is what we usually find. Notice how many of these are simple to fix.
| What you notice | Usual cause | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| No sound at all | A blocked wax filter, nine times out of ten. Then a dead battery or a device that did not seat on the charger. | Often completed while you wait |
| Weak or muffled sound | Wax or debris in the filter or dome, or moisture in the receiver. | Often completed while you wait |
| Whistling or feedback | A dome or earmold that no longer seals, often because the ear has changed shape or the wrong size is fitted. | Same visit, new dome or a re-impression |
| Cutting in and out | A failing receiver wire, a corroded contact, or a Bluetooth pairing issue rather than a fault. | Often same visit |
| Distorted or crackling | Moisture damage or a failing receiver. This one usually needs a part. | Same visit if we stock the part |
| Will not hold a charge | Contacts dirty, charger fault, or a lithium cell near end of life at four to five years. | Cell replacement goes to the manufacturer |
Try this first
Change the wax filter and swap the dome. If you have a spare filter at home and know how, that alone resolves a surprising share of “dead” hearing aids. If you are not sure, do not force anything, just bring them in and we will show you how so you can do it yourself next time.
How it works
By appointment for a repair. Open Monday to Thursday 9:00 to 4:00, or Friday 9:00 to 1:00. Calling first on 770-590-8662 means you will not wait behind a fitting.
Step 1
Come in or call
Appointment during opening hours, or book a time if that suits you better. Bring the charger and any accessories along with the devices.
Step 2
We diagnose it in front of you
We look at them under magnification, check the filter, dome, receiver and battery contacts, and tell you what we find and what it will cost before doing anything.
Step 3
Most are fixed while you wait
Filters, domes, tubing, cleaning and contact repairs are done in the office. If a device needs the manufacturer, we handle the shipping and keep you posted.
What we fix here, and what has to go back
Being straight about this saves you a wasted trip and a surprise.
In the office, usually same visit
- Wax filter and dome replacement
- Tubing and earmold replacement
- Deep cleaning and wax removal from the device
- Battery contact cleaning and minor corrosion
- Receiver wire replacement, where we stock the part
- Reprogramming devices we fit
- Charger and pairing troubleshooting
Sent to the manufacturer
- Internal component or circuit failure
- Rechargeable cell replacement
- Shell cracks or custom shell remakes
- Water damage beyond surface corrosion
- Anything still under manufacturer warranty
- Reprogramming a device locked to another provider
Turnaround is typically one to two weeks. We handle the paperwork and shipping, and we will tell you the cost before anything is sent.
Brands we service
We repair and clean all makes and models, including devices bought somewhere else entirely. The brands we see most often are:
Audibel, Starkey, Phonak, ReSound, Signia (formerly Siemens), Miracle-Ear, Kirkland Signature, Unitron, Oticon, Widex, Beltone and others.
One honest limitation
Cleaning and physical repairs we can do on almost anything. Reprogramming is different. Some manufacturers lock devices to the practice that sold them, and Kirkland Signature devices from Costco are a common example. That is the manufacturer’s restriction, not ours, and we cannot work around it. Call with the model number and we will tell you honestly what we can and cannot do before you drive over.
How to avoid most repairs entirely
We would rather you did not need us. These six habits prevent the large majority of what comes through the door.
- Dry them every night in an electronic dehumidifier. In a Georgia summer this is the single highest value thing you can do.
- Change wax filters on a schedule, not when the device fails. Monthly for most people, more often if you produce a lot of wax.
- Wipe them down daily with a dry cloth. Never use alcohol, wipes or water.
- Take them out before hairspray, lotions and sunscreen, which clog microphone ports faster than wax does.
- Never apply heat. No hair dryers, no ovens, and never left on a dashboard.
- Bring them in for a clean and check every six months, or before a trip rather than after.
Common questions
Do you repair hearing aids you did not sell?
Yes, for all makes and models. Cleaning and physical repairs we can do on almost anything. Reprogramming depends on whether the manufacturer has locked the device to the provider that sold it.
Do I need an appointment for a repair?
Yes. We book Monday to Thursday 9:00 to 4:00 and Friday 9:00 to 1:00. The clinic is busy, so a booked slot means you are seen without waiting. Calling 770-590-8662 first means you will not wait behind a fitting.
How much does a hearing aid repair cost?
Filters, domes and cleaning are handled as part of a service visit. Parts and manufacturer repairs vary, and we always quote before doing the work. If the device is under warranty there may be no charge at all.
How long will I be without my hearing aids?
Most repairs are done while you wait. If a device has to go to the manufacturer, typically one to two weeks. Ask about a loaner if being without them would leave you stuck.
My hearing aid suddenly stopped working. Is it broken?
Usually not. A blocked wax filter is by far the most common cause, followed by a battery or charging contact issue. Change the filter and the dome first, and if that does not do it, bring them in.
Is it worth repairing or should I replace them?
Depends on age and cost. Devices four to six years old with an expensive fault are often better replaced, especially as your hearing has probably changed since they were programmed. We will tell you honestly which way the maths points, including when the answer is to keep what you have.
My hearing aid got wet. What should I do?
Dry it with a cloth, open the battery door if it has one, and put it in a drying container overnight. Do not apply heat and do not charge it wet. Bring it in sooner rather than later, because corrosion worsens with time.
Bring them in, we will take a look
By appointment. We will tell you what is wrong and what it costs before we touch anything.