problem with the spot healing brush

[#1]

I just updated my photoshop.  Now whenever I use my Spot Healiong brush it just makes a black circle and doesn't "heal" like it used to.  I ha de tried resetting it and that doesn't help.  The other tools one would use for removal of things are working suchs and healing brush, patch tool, content aware fill.  What can I do to help the spot healing brush to work correctly?  Well maybe it is sort of working but it takes about a minute for each tiny spot.  Why would it be so slow and previously it never showed a black circle.  Thanks

[#2]

I just updated my photoshop.  Now whenever I use my Spot Healiong brush it just makes a black circle and doesn't "heal" like it used to.  I ha de tried resetting it and that doesn't help.  The other tools one would use for removal of things are working suchs and healing brush, patch tool, content aware fill.  What can I do to help the spot healing brush to work correctly?  Well maybe it is sort of working but it takes about a minute for each tiny spot.  Why would it be so slow and previously it never showed a black circle.  Thanks

[#3]

Could you please post screenshots with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Channels, Options Bar, …) visible? 

What are the settings (Blend Mode etc.) of both the Tool and the Layer?