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One hearing aid not working or no sound? Quick fixes to try first

Quick answer: Most of the time it’s power, a clogged wax guard, or a setting. Check the charger light or put in a fresh battery, restart the hearing aid, make sure it isn’t muted in your app, then replace the wax guard and brush the microphone openings. Phonak, Oticon, Starkey, ReSound, Signia and Widex all put power and a blocked wax guard or earpiece near the top of their troubleshooting lists. If it still makes no sound, contact your hearing care professional. If your hearing itself suddenly changed, see a doctor or audiologist right away.

Last checked: 2026-11-02. Steps come from the official support pages listed at the bottom.

Quick triage: try these in order

Room sound or streaming? If the hearing aid still makes everyday sounds louder but phone or TV audio is missing on that side, it’s a Bluetooth problem, not a dead hearing aid. Skip to the streaming section below.
Check the power. Rechargeable: put it in the charger and look for the charging light. Disposable battery: put in a fresh battery, flat + side up, and close the battery door all the way.
Restart it. Rechargeable: turn it off and on with its button, or, as Signia and Widex describe, place it in the charger for about 5 seconds and take it out (brand details below). Disposable battery: open the battery door, then close it.
Check volume, mute and program. Make sure it isn’t muted or turned all the way down, from the hearing aid, a remote or your hearing aid app, and that you’re on your everyday program.
Replace the wax guard (wax filter) with the same type that came with your hearing aid, and check that the dome or earpiece is clean.
Brush the microphone openings, the tiny slits near the buttons or battery door, with the small cleaning brush.
Dry it if it got damp, in a hearing aid dryer or an airy place.
Still no sound? Stop and contact your hearing care professional. The receiver or another part may need checking or replacing.

If your hearing changed, not the hearing aid: the U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) says sudden hearing loss often affects just one ear and should be treated as a medical emergency: see a doctor right away. Don’t assume it’s earwax or a hearing aid fault.

Rechargeable hearing aids: power and charger checks

Put the hearing aid in the charger and check the light. Signia says the charger’s LEDs should show that charging has started. Widex says to check the LEDs and your user guide for what each light means.
No light? Make sure the charger is firmly plugged into a working outlet, and try a different socket. Signia and Widex both suggest this.
Take the hearing aid out and seat it again. Signia says hearing aids with gold charging contacts are magnetic and should click into place when they’re the right way round. Starkey also lists wrong orientation as a cause of no charging light.
Clean the charging contacts on the hearing aid with a soft, dry cloth, and clean the charger’s pins with a dry cloth or soft brush. Signia and Widex say not to use liquids.
Using a portable charging case? Signia suggests plugging the case into the outlet first, then putting the hearing aids in.
Only one side won’t charge? Signia suggests swapping slots (if your charger isn’t marked left and right). If the working hearing aid charges in the other slot, the problem is likely the hearing aid that won’t charge. If not, it may be that slot or the charger. Tell your hearing care provider what you found.
Restart it. Signia: place it in the charger for 5 seconds, then take it out. Widex: press and hold the button to turn it off, then press and hold again to turn it on; no button, use the charger for 5 seconds. Phonak: press the lower part of the button for 3 seconds to switch it on. If it seems stuck, Phonak’s reboot is to hold the button for at least 15 seconds; on most models you then put it in the plugged-in charger until the light blinks green (up to 30 seconds), while Infinio and EON models blink green and then turn solid green on their own.

Signia says hearing aids that haven’t been charged for over 6 months may be damaged by a deep discharge of the battery, so charge them as soon as you can.

Disposable battery hearing aids

Use a fresh battery. Signia suggests one from a different pack if you can.
Pull the sticker (tab) off. Starkey recommends waiting 3 to 5 minutes after removing the sticker before using the battery. Other brands don’t give a wait, so follow your user guide.
Put it in the right way round: Phonak and Starkey say the flat side marked + faces up.
Close the battery door (drawer) completely. Phonak, Oticon and Starkey all list a door that isn’t fully closed as a cause of no sound.
Oticon also suggests carefully cleaning the battery contacts inside the hearing aid and wiping the battery with a dry cloth.

Clear the sound path: wax guard, dome and microphones

Wax guard (wax filter). Oticon says earwax can clog the sound outlet and cause weak or distorted sound, and that wax build-up is one of the main causes of hearing aid repair. Signia and Widex say to replace the guard as soon as it looks clogged. Starkey lists a blocked Hear Clear wax guard as a cause of a dead or quiet hearing aid. Always use the same type of wax guard that came with your hearing aid. ReSound says to change it yourself only if you’ve been shown how; otherwise ask your hearing care professional.
Dome or earpiece. Oticon says to check earpieces for dirt and clean or replace them. Signia lists domes as disposable parts you can replace. ReSound says to get replacement parts from your hearing care professional when they turn stiff, brittle or discolored.
Microphone openings. Signia and Widex say clogged microphone openings can stop the hearing aid picking up sound, which mutes its output. Gently brush the tiny slits near the buttons or battery door.
Earwax in your ear. Signia and Widex note that wax in the ear canal can block the sound even when the hearing aid works. Your hearing care professional can look. ReSound says to see your physician about excessive earwax.

Our cleaning and maintenance helper has the daily routine, and you can sign up there for free cleaning reminders so a clogged wax guard doesn’t catch you out.

Check volume, mute and program (including the app)

Muted by accident? Oticon says to check you haven’t muted your hearing aids with the Oticon Companion app, a remote control or a ConnectClip.
Volume. Starkey says to make sure the volume isn’t on mute or the lowest setting.
Program. Starkey notes that programs meant for the phone or special places can sound unusual in everyday use. Switch back to your everyday program.
Battery in the app. Signia and Widex say you can check battery status in their apps to see whether the hearing aid has started up and connected.

Only the streaming is missing on one side

Signia says that if the hearing aid works for everyday sound but streaming doesn’t, the cause is likely Bluetooth, not the hearing aid itself. Try this:

Turn Bluetooth off and on, restart the hearing aids, then restart the phone.
Still one-sided? Forget the hearing aids on your phone and pair them again. See Hearing aid keeps disconnecting for the full order.
Use your brand guide to re-pair: Phonak + iPhone, Phonak + Android, Oticon + iPhone, Oticon + Android, ReSound, Starkey, Signia, Widex.

Did it get wet?

Oticon says to dry hearing aids in a dryer or an airy place. For disposable batteries, take them out, leave the battery drawers open, then put in new batteries.
ReSound says to put a wet hearing aid and battery in a sealed container with a drying agent overnight, and not to use it until it’s completely dry.
ReSound also says to keep hearing aids away from direct heat and sunlight.

Crackling, distorted or weak: could it be the receiver?

Signia counts the receiver (the speaker part that sits in your ear) as part of the ear piece, along with the dome and wax guard. Makers list these causes for distorted or weak sound:

Volume too high: Signia and Widex say high volume can distort sound, especially in noise.
Low battery or weak charge: replace the battery or fully charge it.
Dirty or clogged earpiece: replace the wax guard and dome.
Hardware: if it still won’t make sound or still sounds distorted, Signia says there could be an issue with the hearing aid’s hardware or accessories, such as the receiver. Widex says a part may need to be replaced. Both say to see your hearing care provider.

Don’t try to open or fix the hearing aid yourself. Starkey says some problems should go to your hearing professional to avoid further damage or voiding the warranty.

When to stop and contact your clinic

You’ve worked through the steps above and it still makes no sound, or the sound is still weak or distorted.
It’s physically damaged (Starkey).
The charger shows error lights or still won’t charge. Signia says to bring the charger, its cable and USB plug along with your hearing aids.
It plays tones you don’t expect even after charging for at least 30 minutes or changing the battery (Signia and Widex).

Starkey says your hearing professional may be able to adjust some hearing aids remotely, or may ask you to drop them off. Starkey’s support line for hearing aid wearers is 1-866-637-9243.

If it has to go away for repair, ask your clinic how long it should take, whether it’s under warranty, and whether a loaner hearing aid is available while yours is away. Keep the working hearing aid charged and in its case when you’re not wearing it, and see our lost hearing aid guide to turn on your app’s finder.

Common questions

Why did one of my hearing aids suddenly stop working?

The most common causes makers list are a dead or flat battery, a clogged wax guard or earpiece, the hearing aid being switched off or muted, and moisture. Restart it, check the power, replace the wax guard and brush the microphone openings. If it still makes no sound, contact your hearing care professional.

My rechargeable hearing aid won't charge on one side. What should I do?

Check the charger is plugged into a working outlet, reseat the hearing aid, and clean the charging contacts on the hearing aid and charger with a dry cloth. Signia suggests swapping charging slots to tell whether the hearing aid or the charger is at fault. If it still won't charge, take the hearing aids and charger to your hearing care provider.

How long should I wait after pulling the battery tab?

Starkey recommends waiting 3 to 5 minutes after removing the sticker before using a new battery. Other makers don't give a wait time, so follow your user guide.

Why is my hearing aid crackling or sounding weak?

Signia and Widex list high volume, low battery and a dirty dome or wax guard. If it continues after you replace those, Signia says the hearing aid's hardware or the receiver may need checking by your hearing care provider.

My hearing aid works but phone audio only plays on one side. Is it broken?

Probably not. Signia says that if the hearing aid works for everyday sound but streaming doesn't, the cause is likely Bluetooth. Restart, then forget and re-pair the hearing aids using your brand guide.

What if my hearing suddenly got worse in one ear?

See a doctor or audiologist right away. The NIDCD says sudden hearing loss often affects one ear and should be treated as a medical emergency. Starkey also lists a change in your hearing as a reason to see your hearing professional.

Can I get a loaner while my hearing aid is repaired?

Ask your clinic when you drop it off. HearFlow can't say what your clinic offers, so ask about the repair time, warranty coverage and whether a loaner is available.

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Official sources

Still stuck? Your hearing care professional can pair your hearing aids for you and update their software. See our medical disclaimer.