Troubleshooting Hearing Aid Feedback and Whistling Issues

Feedback issues with hearing aids can significantly disrupt the quality of your auditory experience. When you hear whistling, squealing, or other unwanted noises, it often indicates a loop of sound amplification occurring within the hearing aid system. This loop typically forms when sound from the device’s speaker leaks out and is then picked up again by the microphone, creating an undesirable cycle of amplified sound.

Ignoring feedback problems can have several negative consequences. Firstly, it can lead to discomfort and annoyance, as the whistling or squealing sounds can be distracting and unpleasant. Secondly, the presence of feedback can compromise the clarity of the sounds you actually want to hear, making conversations and other auditory experiences less enjoyable. Lastly, if left unresolved, persistent feedback can even cause wearers to avoid using their hearing aids altogether, which defeats the purpose of wearing them to improve hearing.

Check the Fit of Your Hearing Aids

It’s not uncommon to see a misaligned or improper hearing aid fit causing feedback issues. It could be that your earmold has become damaged, wasn’t the best fit in the first place, or perhaps your hearing aid has become a little warped; perhaps under direct sunlight. Ask your audiologist to recheck your fit, and they’ll be able to spot inconsistencies. Of course, you’ll also feel a physical difference too.

Lower the Volume

Feedback caused by heightened volumes isn’t limited to hearing aids, it can happen to speakers, headphones, audio production equipment and even mobile phones. If we remember that a hearing aid is a highly sophisticated and specialized form of earbud (even though this is a reductive comparison), we can see how improper volume could be an issue. Adjust your levels, and if you believe your hearing aid isn’t sensitive enough, speak to your audiologist about that.

Note Times of Whistling

Experiencing whistling sounds from your hearing aids can be frustrating. This occurs when sound leaks from the speaker and gets picked up by the microphone, creating a loop of amplified noise. Common causes of whistling include improper fit of the hearing aid, blockage in the ear canal, or excess earwax accumulation. Adjusting the fit, cleaning your ears, or consulting your audiologist for adjustments can often help alleviate this issue.

Consider Connections

Modern hearing aids come with all kinds of sophisticated features, the most common that of Bluetooth integrations that let you connect to your smart devices. If you notice that the feedback seems to occur when connected to a particular phone, television unit or laptop, it may be that your device is incompatible with certain software, integrations or updates. Make sure to note down the issue, and test it on other devices.

If you continue to experience issues with your hearing aids despite running through common problems and troubleshooting tips, schedule an appointment with your audiologist to have your devices evaluated. The audiologist will be able to diagnose your device issues and can recommend in-office repairs for your specific problems.