Why Does My Hearing Aid Keep Whistling?
If your hearing aid suddenly starts making a high-pitched whistling or squealing sound, you are not alone. This is one of the most common problems hearing aid users experience.
The good news is that hearing aid feedback is often easy to identify and fix. However, the cause is not always the same.
What Is Hearing Aid Feedback?
The whistling sound is usually called acoustic feedback.
It happens when amplified sound from the hearing aid escapes from the ear and is picked up again by the hearing aid’s microphone. The hearing aid then amplifies that sound again, creating a feedback loop that can produce a high-pitched whistle.
Modern hearing aids have sophisticated feedback management systems, but they cannot eliminate every possible cause of feedback.
Why Does a Hearing Aid Whistle?
1. The hearing aid is not sitting correctly
If the hearing aid or earmold is not positioned properly in the ear, amplified sound can escape around it.
This can happen if:
- The hearing aid has moved out of position.
- The earmold is not inserted correctly.
- A custom earmold no longer fits the ear properly.
- The ear canal has changed shape over time.
2. The ear tip or dome does not provide enough acoustic seal
Many behind-the-ear and receiver-in-canal hearing aids use a dome or an earmold.
If the dome is too small, damaged, incorrectly fitted, or no longer appropriate for the user’s ear canal, sound can leak out and cause feedback.
Changing the dome may solve the problem, but using a larger or more closed dome is not always the correct solution. The type of fitting and the individual’s hearing loss need to be considered.
3. The hearing aid has moved
Feedback may occur when you touch, adjust or move the hearing aid.
For example, putting on glasses, wearing a hat, hugging someone, or simply touching the device can temporarily change its position and cause whistling. If the feedback stops when you release the hearing aid, this may indicate a fit or acoustic coupling issue.
4. Earwax can contribute to the problem
Earwax does not usually cause feedback directly, but it can change the acoustic conditions in the ear and affect how the hearing aid behaves.
If you notice a sudden change in sound quality, reduced hearing, increased feedback or a blocked sensation, it may be worth having your ear checked by an appropriate healthcare professional. Do not try to remove deep earwax yourself with cotton swabs or other objects.
5. The hearing aid may need cleaning or maintenance
A damaged or blocked component can affect the performance of a hearing aid.
Depending on the type of device, problems may involve the microphone area, receiver, wax filter, tubing, dome, earmold or other acoustic components.
Regular cleaning and maintenance can help keep the hearing aid working properly.
6. Your hearing may have changed
Hearing aids are programmed according to your hearing levels.
If your hearing has changed significantly since your last hearing test or fitting, the existing settings may no longer be ideal. A hearing assessment and hearing aid check may be appropriate if feedback has become a persistent problem.
7. The hearing aid may need professional adjustment
Modern hearing aids use digital feedback management systems to detect and control feedback.
However, feedback management is only one part of a successful hearing aid fitting. If the device continues to whistle despite apparently correct positioning and cleaning, the fitting should be checked by a hearing care professional.
Depending on the situation, the solution may involve:
- Checking the physical fit
- Replacing a dome, receiver or tubing
- Checking the earmold
- Reprogramming the hearing aid
- Checking the feedback management system
- Reviewing the hearing test
- Verifying the fitting using objective measurements such as Real Ear Measurement (REM)
Don’t Just Turn the Volume Down
A common reaction to feedback is to reduce the hearing aid volume.
This may make the whistling less noticeable, but it does not necessarily solve the underlying problem.
If the hearing aid is providing too much amplification in a particular frequency range, reducing amplification may sometimes be appropriate. But if the real problem is a poor acoustic seal, a damaged component or an incorrect fit, turning the volume down is simply masking the problem.
The goal should be to identify why the hearing aid is whistling rather than simply making it quieter.
A Well-Fitted Hearing Aid Should Not Constantly Whistle
Feedback can happen occasionally with almost any hearing aid, particularly when the device is being touched or when something changes around the ear.
Persistent feedback, however, should not simply be accepted as normal.
A properly selected, fitted and programmed hearing aid should provide amplification without continuous uncomfortable whistling.
If you are experiencing persistent feedback, having the hearing aid and its physical fit professionally checked is usually the best next step.
Need Help With Your Hearing Aid in Istanbul?
If you are living in Istanbul or visiting the city and your hearing aid is whistling, needs adjustment, cleaning or a replacement part, professional hearing aid service may help identify the cause.
You do not necessarily need to have purchased your hearing aid from the same hearing center to ask for professional assistance.
Contact us before your visit if you need assistance with your hearing aid in Istanbul.