When someone gets a hearing aid, the objective is pretty obvious- you want to be able to hear a lot better. However, sometimes, you start getting feedback from your hearing aid device. This can sound like buzzing or even like whistling sounds. This feedback can be just a bit annoying or it can also be absolutely painful.

Provided that you have thoroughly checked the batteries of the device and that they are fine, what you are hearing is definitely feedback from the device. What this means is that sounds are rebounding within the canals of your ear and are thus, going through the device two times. Below we have listed some of the most common issues that lead to feedback. We will also talk about how to fix these issues.

The Device Was Bumped or Touched

If you just suddenly start getting feedback from your hearing aid device, the thing that is most likely to have happened is some unwanted contact on the device. You could have quite easily just put your phone on your ear or just placed your hand on the device. It could also be due to someone hugging you or you hugging someone.

If you are wearing certain headgears, those things can also get in the way. Things like scarves and hats can get in the way of sound being able to properly travel to your ears. If the kind of feedback you are getting is more than just a quick blip, and you are wearing certain accessories on your head, you may want to check those accessories. They can be the reason behind your hearing aid device having feedback.

The Volume of the Device is Too High

If you constantly feel like you have to put on the maximum amount of volume on your hearing aids to properly hear, then you are much more likely to experience feedback. One thing that we have to mention is that if you are in an environment where you need to increase the volume of your hearing aid, that is a completely different scenario (though the chances of getting feedback will increase).

The thing to look out for is how often you need to have your hearing aids at full volume to properly hear. If it happens constantly, you have a problem in your hands. This is the right time to go to an audiologist and get your hearing and your hearing aid checked. Given that your hearing does not change, an audiologist will be able to identify the problems with your hearing aids and let you know if you need new ones.

Dirty Ears

It really does seem like that most problems with hearing come back to earwax. This ought to be pretty obvious; if you have too much wax in your ears, it is only natural that you will not be able to hear to the best of your abilities. If your earwax results in the sounds being forced back out, or if the sounds are trapped, you will most likely hear some buzzing.

You may also end up hearing whistling sounds. In order to properly check if this is the actual issue, you may want to check your hearing aid device to see if they are noticeably dirty. You will also be wise to check if wax has gotten into any nooks or cronies of the device.

Hearing Aids Are Not A Good Fit

When you get a hearing aid, one of the most important things that you will need to make sure is that your device fits your ears properly. If this is not done, you will experience problems with your hearing and you will be dissatisfied with your hearing aids.

This is down to the fact that when your device does not fit your ears properly, the sounds have the potential to just bounce around and it can then cause feedback. One very obvious thing that a lot of people tend to overlook is whether or not you have worn the device properly. If it is not worn properly and the device is not properly within your ears, you will have problems.

This will be especially true if the hearing aids you are wearing are new and you are just getting used to them. You may quite easily think more about comfort and wear them a bit loosely. If this applies to you, make sure that you take your hearing aid out and then reinsert them. Make sure that the device is placed properly within your ears.

If the problem is not with placement, then there are a couple of other common reasons why issues with fitting prop up. For instance, if you have just gained or lost a significant amount of weight, it can have an effect on how well your hearing aids fit. This is because although our ears do not change in size, there may be changes in skin laxity and this can affect the placement of the device.

Then there may also be the case that you have had your hearing aids for too long. Maybe the time has come for you to replace the device or to at least get replacement parts. Other reasons why your device may not be fitting properly could be because the device shrank, cracked, or got hardened. All of these things can result in feedback from your device.

Image Credits: Image 2: JD Mason jmason, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons