How to Manage Hearing Aid Feedback

Regardless of brand or type, hearing aids are bound to produce whistling sounds at one point or another. Sometimes, these bothering sounds are typical occurrences, other times, it’s an indication that something is wrong. No matter what the case is, all of these are solvable.

3 Types of Hearing Aid Feedback

The whistling sound your hearing aid produces is called “feedback”. Noise occurs when a sound that is supposed to go into your ear canal leaves your ear and goes back into the hearing aid microphone instead. When this happens, the sound gets reamplified, which causes the whistling sound.

There are three types of hearing aid feedback—acoustical, mechanical, and electrical feedback.

• Acoustical Feedback: This occurs when the amplified sound that is produced by your hearing aid speaker is picked up by your hearing aid microphone.
• Mechanical Feedback: This occurs as an effect of vibrations produced when your hearing aid speaker comes in contact with your hearing aid casing.
• Electrical Feedback: This occurs when the problem is from the electrical circuits of your hearing aid.

Possible Causes of Hearing Aid Feedback

To help you understand this better, here are the possible causes of your hearing aid feedback and what you can do to solve your problem.

1. Poor Hearing Aid Fit

When your device’s earmolds aren't perfectly fit into your ears and don’t create a tight seal within the ear canal, sounds have the ability to leak and create bothering feedback.

Solution:

You can easily fix this by scheduling a hearing aid fitting with your trusted hearing aid specialist. 

2. Earwax Blockage

Your hearing device works by sending sounds into your ear canal. (Recommended reading: How hearing aids work) However, if your ear canal is filled with excessive earwax, sounds aren’t able to get through, causing it to bounce back into your hearing aid.

Solution:

Have your earwax managed only by a healthcare professional. (Recommended service: Assisted ear cleaning) And while you’re at it, have your device cleaned from possible wax buildup as well.

3. Excessive Volume

Turning up the volume of your hearing aid too high can cause sounds to bounce off the ear canal. This creates annoying feedback issues. 

Solution:

Avoid turning up the volume of your device beyond the central point. If you’re having trouble hearing properly from your hearing aid, it’s best to inform your trusted hearing aid specialist to receive proper solutions.

4. Broken Tubing

Sometimes, feedback is caused by issues in the hearing aid itself. For instance, broken tubing. When it hardens and shrinks, it begins to pull your device’s earmold, which distorts its fitting.

Solution:

To solve this problem, talk to your hearing aid specialist about getting a brand new tube.

5. Ill-fitting Microphone

Another issue in your hearing aid may also be causing the feedback. Loosened or displaced microphones can cause sounds to ineffectively travel to your ear canal.

Solution:

Again, the best way to manage hearing device issues is by scheduling a consultation with your hearing aid specialist so they can tend to your problems professionally. (Recommended service: Hearing aid maintenance)

Feedback Management

If it’s a problem concerning your hearing aids, it’s always best to ask a reliable hearing aid professional for help in solving your issues. Should you need assistance, feel free to schedule an appointment with Listening Lab Malaysia by dialling 03 7725 9334 today.