Also known as feedback, the whistling, buzzing or squealing noise you may experience is caused by different external and internal factors. Luckily, it’s less common with modern digital hearing aids, but you may still experience whistling every so often when wearing your devices.
Common Causes of Hearing Aid Feedback
Hearing aid fit: This is one of the most common causes of hearing aid feedback. You may experience whistling if your earmolds or domes don’t fit in your ears snugly.
High volume: You may be tempted to turn up the volume on your hearing aids to offset feedback. However, increasing the loudness forces sounds back into your hearing aids.
Earwax buildup: Excess earwax creates a blockage in your ear canal that prevents sound waves from traveling to your inner ear. Sounds emitted from your hearing aid speaker will reverberate off earwax and cause feedback.
Tubing: Hearing aid tubing can harden, crack, shrink or break over time, especially if you don’t practice consistent hearing aid maintenance. Warped tubing can’t move sounds into your ear canals properly.
Mechanical/electrical problems: Wear and tear could dislodge a mic or loosen different components, affecting the delicate structures and programming inside your hearing device. You may experience whistling when wearing your devices if they sustain damage.
Something near your hearing aid: Anything close to your hearing aids can reflect sound into them. That could be caused by your hair or hand or clothing like a scarf or hat. You may notice feedback while you’re giving someone a hug or sitting too close to a wall.
How Earmold Fit Affects Whistling
The microphone in your hearing aid collects sounds which are amplified and emitted by the speaker into your ear. If your hearing aids don’t fit properly, those sounds may escape your ear canal and get picked up by the microphone again, causing feedback.
The shape of your ear canal changes over time, especially if you’ve gained or lost weight. That affects how well your devices fit, so you may need to visit your audiologist for an adjustment or upgrade.
Environmental Factors That Contribute to Whistling
A crowded, noisy room poses a complex listening environment that can create feedback as sounds reverberate off your devices. Standing close to a speaker may also result in whistling, especially if that person is talking loudly.
Be mindful of being near rooms with high ceilings, bare walls and hard floors. Those features often generate echoes if there aren’t curtains, carpets or rugs to absorb sounds.
Troubleshooting Tips for Quick Fixes
- Remove your hearing aids and reinsert them to ensure your earmold or dome fits snugly.
- Examine all components for cracks and damage.
- Check the wax guards and clean or replace them if they’re clogged.
- Clean your hearing aids regularly to clear moisture and debris.
- Turn down the volume and follow your hearing prescription settings guidelines.
- Remove objects near the outside of your ear or move away from them.
- Charge your devices or replace disposable batteries.
- Clean your ears safely, and don’t stick anything in your ears to clear a blockage.
- Consult your audiologist for assistance with excess ear wax removal.
When to Seek Professional Help
It’s important to schedule an appointment with your audiologist if hearing aid feedback persists after troubleshooting attempts. You should also visit your hearing health professional if you notice damage or struggle to fit them into your ears. They can also adjust settings if you experience whistling consistently in specific listening environments.
Hearing Aid Fittings and Care at Hearing Associates
Wearing hearing aids should be an enjoyable experience. If you experience whistling, bring your devices to Hearing Associates for adjustments and maintenance. We offer comprehensive fittings and cleanings to ensure your hearing aids fit comfortably and function properly. Call 888-760-2032 or schedule your appointment online.