Fall is a time of change — shorter days, cooler air, and more time spent indoors with family and friends. For people who wear hearing aids, it’s also the perfect time to check in on how well your devices are performing before the busy holiday season begins.

At Shohet Ear Associates, Orange County’s longest-standing hearing clinic, we often see that small adjustments made in the fall can make a big difference in comfort, sound quality, and overall hearing performance during the months ahead.

Cooler Air, Moisture, and Condensation

As temperatures drop, moisture in the air increases — especially when you move between outdoor chill and indoor heat. That constant temperature shift can cause condensation inside hearing aids, particularly in behind-the-ear styles.

Moisture buildup can lead to:

  • Intermittent sound or static

  • Distorted amplification

  • Corrosion in battery contacts or microphone ports

Our audiologists can inspect internal components and recommend drying systems or desiccant cases, which remove moisture overnight and extend the life of your devices.

The Science of Sound in Social Settings

Hearing aids don’t just make everything louder — they use microprocessors and directional microphones to distinguish speech from background noise.

As gatherings move indoors for the holidays, rooms often have more echo and overlapping voices, which challenge even advanced hearing technology. A “hearing aid check” appointment lets us:

  • Update your device’s settings to improve speech clarity

  • Re-measure real-ear output (the gold standard in verifying accurate amplification)

  • Create a “holiday” program optimized for group conversation and restaurant noise

These fine-tuned settings help your brain receive a cleaner, more natural sound signal — reducing listening fatigue and improving understanding in complex environments.

Hardware Health: Batteries, Filters, and Receivers

Hearing aids are sophisticated, miniature computers, and even small changes in component condition can significantly alter their performance.
During a fall maintenance visit, we typically:

  • Test battery and charging docks to detect any issues

  • Examine microphone inlets and wax guards for blockages

  • Clean or replace receiver wires and dome tips to prevent distortion

Routine maintenance like this helps preserve both sound fidelity and device lifespan, preventing minor issues from turning into full repairs later.

A Smarter Time to Make Adjustments

Many patients notice subtle changes in hearing over time without realizing it — especially if their last test was a year or more ago. Retesting each year provides a fresh baseline, and a fall tune-up helps provide the best quality sound from your devices during the high-volume social months ahead. Because hearing aid settings are based on your most recent hearing thresholds, even small updates to your audiogram can ensure your devices are matching your current needs precisely.

If you’ve noticed that conversations feel a little muffled, background noise seems harder to manage, or you haven’t had your hearing aids serviced recently, now is an ideal time to check in.