Hearing aid whistling, also known as feedback, can be a frustrating issue for those who wear hearing aids. The high-pitched, annoying sound can be distracting and embarrassing, making it difficult to use your hearing aids effectively. In this blog, we will explore the reasons behind hearing aid whistling and what you can do to prevent or minimize it.
What Causes Hearing Aid Whistling?
Hearing aid whistling is caused by a feedback loop between the hearing aid microphone and the speaker. When sound enters the microphone, it is amplified by the hearing aid and played back through the speaker. If the sound from the speaker enters the microphone again, it creates a feedback loop that results in a high-pitched whistle.
There are several factors that can contribute to hearing aid whistling, including:
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Poor fit: If your hearing aids are not properly fitted, they may not be sealing off your ear canal properly. This can allow sound to leak out and re-enter the microphone, causing feedback.
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Blocked ear canal: Wax, debris, or other blockages in your ear canal can prevent sound from being properly funneled into the hearing aid. This can cause feedback and whistling.
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Volume setting: If the volume on your hearing aids is set too high, it can increase the risk of feedback and whistling.
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Background noise: In noisy environments, your hearing aids may struggle to distinguish between speech and background noise. This can cause the hearing aids to overcompensate, leading to feedback and whistling.
How to Prevent Hearing Aid Whistling?
Here are some tips for preventing hearing aid whistling:
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Get a proper fit: Make sure your hearing aids are properly fitted and that they seal off your ear canal properly. This will help to reduce the risk of feedback and whistling. Our Hear Clear hearing aids come with a variety of different silicone ear domes. The various sizes are designed to ensure that no matter what size your ear canal is, you will always have a snug fit with your Hear Clear hearing aid.
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Keep your ears clean: Regularly clean your ears and remove any wax or debris that may be blocking your ear canal. This will help to ensure that sound can be properly funneled into your hearing aids. At Hear Clear we also sell a specialist ear camera. This is an easy to use camera specifically designed for ear cleaning. The soft scoop allows you to safely free your ears of excess wax and ensure optimal hearing at all times.
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Adjust the volume: If you are experiencing feedback or whistling, try reducing the volume on your hearing aids. If you are still experiencing problems, consider visiting your audiologist for a checkup.
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Use noise reduction: Many hearing aids come equipped with noise reduction features that can help to reduce background noise. If you are having trouble in noisy environments, consider a hearing aid with advanced noise reduction capabilities.
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Use earplugs: In noisy environments, you may also want to consider using earplugs to reduce the amount of background noise reaching your hearing aids.
In conclusion, hearing aid whistling can be a frustrating and distracting issue for those who wear hearing aids. However, there are steps you can take to prevent or minimize the problem, such as getting a proper fit, keeping your ears clean, adjusting the volume, using noise reduction, and using earplugs. If you are experiencing persistent hearing aid whistling, consider visiting your audiologist for a checkup. With the right tools and strategies, you can enjoy improved hearing and reduced whistling from your hearing aids.
