How to Troubleshoot a Phonak Rechargeable Hearing Aid

Phonak giving you issues? We'll walk you through troubleshooting for a few basic problems with your device or charger, and what to do if that doesn't work.

For the most part, rechargeable hearing aids are excellent. Compared to units with traditional batteries, rechargeable hearing aids last longer, are simpler to operate, and can give the user significantly more freedom. They are not perfect, however.

No technology truly is. 

And when you run into a problem, even with a quality brand like Phonak, finding a solution can be an incredibly frustrating experience. Don't worry, though. We're here to help, and we'll walk you through the steps involved in troubleshooting your Phonak rechargeable hearing aid ― up to and including determining whether or not you need to visit your audiologist.

Identifying Phonak Charging Issues

Most Phonak hearing aids have a small LED on the main body of the unit. You can generally use this light as an indicator of whether or not your hearing aid's batteries are functioning as intended. If the light is solid red or doesn't turn on at all, you're looking at an issue with either the battery or the charger.

To determine which, you'll first want to try swapping the problem device to a different charging port, provided you have a charger that supports this. If the indicator light changes to flashing red, the problem is with your charging dock. 

If nothing changes, you might consider swapping to a different outlet or (if possible) a different USB cable. If that still doesn't solve the problem, the hearing aid itself is likely the source of the issue.

Cleaning Your Phonak Rechargeable Hearing Aid Dock

One of the most common problems with any charging station is the collection of dust or debris on the contacts. Before doing anything rash, your first step should be to take a close look at both your dock and your hearing aid. 

If the contacts on either look dirty, first make sure both are powered off/disconnected. Next, simply take some rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip and gently clean both. Give them a few minutes to dry, and try charging your hearing aid again to see if that corrected the issue. 

If you need to replace your charger, we strongly recommend using the same manufacturer.  Although there are universal hearing aid charge ports on Amazon, using the wrong one can potentially damage your hearing aid. Suddenly, you're looking at not just replacing your charger, but your entire device. You can shop for Phonak accessories at Hearing Planet. We recommend checking out this charging case for Phonak rechargeable hearing aids.

Resetting Your Phonak Rechargeable Hearing Aid

Your first step in troubleshooting battery issues "” and truthfully, most other issues you'll experience with your Phonak "” is to reset the device. To do this, press and hold the power button on the body of your hearing aid for 20 seconds. The hearing aid may chime, turn on and off, or flash during this time.

This is normal; keep the button held down. After the full 20 seconds have elapsed, the device will revert to factory settings. You may want to repeat this cycle several times, but once the device has been reset, connect it to the charger and wait five seconds.

If the indicator LED begins to flash, you've corrected the issue. 

If the light remains red or the device still refuses to turn on, then you may be looking at a more serious issue.

When in Doubt, Check The Manual

Ultimately, we recommend storing the manual for your hearing aid in a safe place so that you can refer to it for both troubleshooting and usage instructions. And if, after going through all the troubleshooting steps, the problem still hasn't corrected itself, your next step should be a visit to your audiologist. 

They may be able to correct the issue themselves, as they have more specialized knowledge (and may also have the necessary tools to examine the device manually). 

If all else fails, however, you'll be sending your hearing aid to Phonak for repairs. If you still have the original packaging or documentation, check to see if your hearing aid is covered by any sort of warranty. Otherwise, you can check with your audiologist for next steps.

Your hearing aid is essentially your connection to the world around you. When it stops working, it can be incredibly stressful. Fortunately, you're not without recourse ― even if you can't fix the issue on your own, there are plenty of experts you can turn to for advice.

We can even help you get started. Schedule a hearing appointment at one of our trusted clinics today.