A hearing aid is a small electronic device that spends its days in a warm, busy place beside the ear. Like any piece of everyday technology, it sometimes needs attention from the people who build and service it. This article is a plain-English look at how hearing aid repairs and servicing generally work in Australia, written as general information rather than as advice about any particular device.
Servicing and Repairs Are Not the Same Thing
The two words get used interchangeably, but they describe different things. Servicing is routine maintenance, the kind of checking and upkeep that happens whether or not anything has gone wrong. A repair addresses a specific fault or a worn or damaged part.
Hearing Australia, the Australian Government's national hearing service provider, puts it this way: hearing aids may need repairs and maintenance to continue to work well, and clients can bring a device to a local centre where the team guides them through the repair process. Other clinics describe the same two ideas under different names, so it is worth knowing which one a given page or invoice is talking about.
What Gets Looked At
Most hearing aids share the same basic parts: one or more microphones, a processor, a receiver (the tiny speaker), a battery or rechargeable cell, and a casing, tubing or dome that connects the device to the ear. Servicing and repair work is generally about those parts. Items the Department of Health lists as repairs and part replacements include:
- cleaning and renewing ear moulds
- replacing the thin tube, dome or wax guards
- replacing the microphone or the ear hook
These are described as part of a program maintenance agreement, and conditions apply under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program.
How a Repair Generally Moves Through a Clinic
How a repair is handled, how long it takes, and whether any work is done on the premises differs between providers and devices. Hearing Australia says clients can bring a hearing aid into a local centre where the team guides them through the repair process, and other providers set out their own steps.
Warranty and Who Pays
Hearing aids normally come with a manufacturer warranty, and the length and terms vary by manufacturer and by model. A warranty usually covers faults arising from manufacture for a stated period and is separate from any servicing agreement a clinic may offer. Repairs outside warranty, or damage a warranty does not cover, may carry a cost. The paperwork that comes with a particular device is the place where the real terms are set out. How warranty differs from insurance is covered in our article on hearing aid insurance for loss or damage in Australia.
Repairs and the Hearing Services Program
Eligible people, including pensioner concession card and DVA card holders, may access hearing services through the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. The Department of Health describes an optional 12-month maintenance agreement that covers batteries, cleaning, servicing and repairs, but not accessories such as rechargers and remotes. An annual fee may apply, and the fee can be higher for partially subsidised devices. People who choose not to enter an agreement are responsible for repairs and consumables not covered by warranty. Devices that are fully subsidised are paid for by the Australian Government, and conditions apply under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program.
For more on the program itself, see the Hearing Services Program page.
Where Everyday Care Fits In
Much of what keeps a hearing aid working comes down to the day-to-day habits manufacturers describe in their product guides. We have covered the general picture in caring for your hearing aids, and for a wider look at the different kinds of devices, the hearing aid solutions hub is a good starting point. Water-related questions get their own explainer in how water resistant and waterproof hearing aids work.
A Quick Summary
- Servicing is routine upkeep. A repair addresses a specific fault or worn part.
- How a repair is handled and how long it takes differs between providers and devices.
- Warranty terms depend on the manufacturer and model, and the paperwork sets them out.
- Hearing Services Program maintenance arrangements exist for eligible clients, and conditions apply under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program.
If you'd like to chat about your hearing, the friendly team at CQ Audiology in Rockhampton is here to help. You can read about hearing aids in Rockhampton, call (07) 4848 6528 or book online.
This article is general information, not personal medical advice. For advice about your own hearing, speak with your GP or a hearing care provider.
Sources: Hearing Australia (repairs and maintenance); Australian Government Department of Health (Hearing Services Program voucher services, maintenance agreement and fact sheet).
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