Your hearing aid is a tiny but incredible device, but it can feel like a nuisance if you start hearing unwanted hearing aid feedback. While today’s technology has helped to reduce the likelihood your hearing aid will whistle or squeal in your ear, you might still hear feedback noises once in a while.
Hearing aid feedback occurs when sound waves already amplified by your device escape your ear canal and are picked up by the hearing aid microphone. This causes the sound to be reamplified and can create a whistling or squealing noise. While occasional instances of this happening are normal, such as when you hug someone or if your ear is brushed when putting on a sweater, you shouldn’t be hearing feedback all the time.
A continuously squealing or whistling hearing aid could mean there’s something else going on with your device. Possible issues include:
One of the most likely reasons your hearing aid is producing abnormal feedback is because it doesn’t fit properly in your ear. The first step to checking if this is the problem is to take out the hearing aid and reinsert it. Sometimes, it just takes a little adjustment to make sure it’s positioned correctly.
If re-inserting doesn’t help, you might have a bigger issue with the fit of your device. While your hearing aid may have fit well in the past, it’s not uncommon for your ear shape to change over time. If you have lost weight, it’s likely the earmolds have become loose and aren’t sealing correctly. Similarly, weight gain can also impact the fit of your hearing aids. If this is the case, visit a hearing care professional to have your hearing aids re-shaped by an expert.
Another common cause of hearing aid squeal or whistling is an excess of earwax. When too much earwax builds up in your ear canal, it can affect the fit of your hearing aid. It can also create a block in your ear canal that prevents sound from getting through. Sound can bounce off this barrier and go back into your hearing aid, causing feedback.
If this is the cause, visit a hearing care professional to have the wax removed. You don’t want to try at-home methods, like swiping a cotton swab or ear candling, as these can be unsafe and hurt your ears. While seeing a specialist, also consider having your hearing aids deep cleaned as well.
It’s important to regularly clean your hearing aids at home, between deep cleanings, as earwax and hearing aids don’t mix. Wax buildup on the devices can cause feedback and diminish their efficacy. Check out our guide on how to clean hearing aids for tips on at-home cleaning techniques.
When something gets too close to your hearing aids, you may experience some brief hearing aid feedback. This can happen from something as simple as your hair falling in front of your ears, from your hand as you lift it to tuck your hair behind your ears or when wearing a stocking cap that covers part of your ears.
This is generally a fleeting moment of feedback as your hair, hand or a hat moves around by your ear. But if it occurs regularly and becomes problematic, discuss the issue with your hearing care professional.
If you notice your hearing aids are making a whistling noise when they’re not in your ears, it’s likely that they’re still powered on and moving air is simply getting amplified through the device’s microphone and speaker. To stop this whistling noise, turn off your hearing aids. This is a good practice in general, as powering down your devices when not in use will maximize battery life.
Tired of dealing with hearing aid feedback? Take the following two steps to help reduce it.
Having a loose earmold, dome or shell is a common cause of hearing aid feedback. If the shell of your hearing aid is loose and doesn’t sit securely behind your ear, any movement you make could jiggle the shell and therefore dislodge your domes or earmolds. And if the dome or custom earmold on your device is loose and isn’t sealing properly, sound waves can escape your ear and bounce back into the hearing aid’s microphone, causing feedback.
In both of these cases, your hearing care professional can help. They can ensure the proper fit and make any necessary adjustments to your devices, helping you figure out how to reduce hearing aid feedback.
Hearing aid tubes connect the shell of a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid to the earmold, helping sound move into the ear canal. Over time—especially without regular, proper cleaning—this component can become hardened, cracked, clogged or damaged. This can interrupt sound waves from properly traveling through the tube, resulting in feedback.
Fortunately, you can replace hearing aid tubes without replacing your entire device. Simply make an appointment at your local Miracle-Ear, and a hearing care professional can replace the tubing.
