Reasons Why Hearing Aids Whistle

Posted by Bella Flow on March 23rd, 2020

Have you ever experienced your hearing device whistle?  This is not an uncommon thing to happen, but for those that wear hearing aids, it can be annoying.  Here we will discuss the most common reasons why this happens and what you can do about it.

Whistling in hearing aids is called feedback.  You should not be alarmed when this happens.  Most individuals that wear these devices have heard it before.  It happens when the sound that should have gone into the ear canal instead goes back to the microphone of the device.  Hearing aids then whistle as the sound is re-amplified.

This can happen at any point in the day.  It is common when you place the hearing aid in your hear or when you take it off at the end of the night.  It could happen when you are putting on your jacket or when someone is whispering close to your ear.  The device is simply reacting to the sounds that are around it.

While this is common, you should also know that sometimes this will signal that hearing aids have a problem with them.  It could be as simple as they need to be cleaned.  No matter what the issue is, it is best to consult your hearing center.

One very common reason our hearing aids whistle is because they do not fit properly anymore.  While many of us do not realize it, our ears can change in shape.  They grow just like the rest of our body.  If this should happen, the earmolds may lose their proper fit, causing them to become loose.  Feedback will then occur, which results in the whistling.  This is a very easy fix as new earmolds can be fitted onto your device.

An easy fix of hearing aids that whistle is a microphone that has become dislodged.  Your hearing center can easily fix this mishap.  

The volume of your hearing device can also affect whistling.  If you are having a hard time hearing, you may opt to turn up the hearing aid.  But in doing this, feedback often occurs.  Reevaluate how loud you need the hearing aid turned up so feedback does not occur.

Broken tubing in hearing aids can also cause whistling.  This tubing can become hard and shrink.  The tubing may also pull at the earmold, which will make it so it does not fit properly.  

Did you know that ear wax can cause whistling?  If you have a build-up of ear wax, any sounds will not penetrate through.  This means the sound is then bounced back out of the ear, causing the annoying whistling sound. If you have ear wax, do not clean it out yourself, as you further risk damaging the ear.  Have a professional clean your ears out.  They can also look at your device to see if it is clogged up with ear wax.  If so, they can remove the earwax so it does not harm your hearing device.

Should you have whistling from your hearing device, do not fret.  Hearing aids often have this issue, and it can be easily addressed.  See your health care professional or hearing center for ways to resolve any issue you are having.

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Bella Flow

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Bella Flow
Joined: February 27th, 2020
Articles Posted: 14

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