A sudden, high-pitched whistle from a hearing aid can be frustrating and distracting. Hearing aid whistling, also known as acoustic feedback, can result from an improper fit, earwax buildup, blocked or damaged components, programming issues, or device malfunction. Our audiology team can identify the underlying cause and recommend the appropriate solution.
Understanding why hearing aid feedback occurs can also help you address simple issues at home and recognize when professional service is needed.
What Causes Hearing Aid Whistling?
Hearing aid whistling or squealing is usually caused by acoustic feedback. The hearing aid’s microphone picks up sound, the device amplifies it, and the receiver delivers the amplified sound into your ear. If some of that amplified sound escapes from the ear canal and reaches the microphone again, it can be amplified repeatedly, creating a whistling or squealing sound.
Brief whistling can occur when putting in your hearing aids or when something, such as your hand, hat, phone, or another object, changes the way sound travels around the device. Modern hearing aids include feedback-management technology to minimize these occurrences, but occasional brief feedback can still happen.
Persistent or unexplained whistling during everyday activities may indicate that sound is escaping around the hearing aid or that another issue needs attention. Rather than simply lowering the volume, it is important to identify and address the underlying cause.
Why Does Acoustic Feedback Happen?
Several factors can contribute to hearing aid feedback. Anything that affects the seal between the hearing aid and ear canal, blocks the sound outlet, requires excessive amplification, or interferes with the device’s components can contribute to whistling.
Common causes include:
- A hearing aid, earmold, or dome that is not fully seated
- An earpiece that has become loose or no longer fits properly
- Earwax buildup in the ear canal
- Wax or debris blocking the wax filter, receiver, tubing, or sound outlet
- Amplification or volume settings that are too high for the current fit
- A damaged dome, earmold, or sound tube
- Moisture affecting internal components
- Changes in hearing that require adjustments to the hearing aid’s programming
- An earpiece that shifts when you talk, chew, laugh, or move your jaw
If you cannot determine why your hearing aids are whistling, our clinical team can examine your ears, check the fit, and evaluate the device to identify the cause.
How Can You Tell Hearing Aid Feedback From Tinnitus?
Hearing aid feedback is an external sound produced by the hearing device. It typically occurs only when the hearing aid is turned on and may change when you adjust the volume, reposition the device, or remove it.
Tinnitus, on the other hand, is the perception of sound without an external source. It may sound like ringing, buzzing, hissing, clicking, or roaring and can occur in one or both ears.
Removing your hearing aid may stop feedback, but it does not necessarily stop tinnitus. If you are unsure whether a sound is coming from your hearing aid or from your ears, a hearing professional can help determine the cause.
How to Troubleshoot Hearing Aid Feedback at Home
You can start with a few simple steps to identify common causes of hearing aid whistling. Avoid inserting anything into your ear canal or attempting repairs that could damage the device.
Try the following:
- Remove the hearing aid and make sure it is intended for that ear.
- Check the dome, earmold, receiver, and tubing for wax, cracks, or loose components.
- Clean the hearing aid using the tools and instructions provided by the manufacturer.
- Replace the wax filter or dome if you have been shown how to do so properly.
- Reinsert the hearing aid carefully and make sure it is seated securely.
- Return the volume to your usual prescribed setting if it has been increased.
- Move hats, hair, phones, or other objects away from the hearing aid’s microphones.
- Check that the battery has sufficient power or that the rechargeable device is adequately charged.
- Turn the hearing aid off and back on if appropriate.
Avoid using water, household cleaners, pins, or sharp objects to clean your hearing aids unless specifically recommended by the manufacturer.
Is the Hearing Aid Broken or Does It Need Adjustment?
Not every instance of whistling means your hearing aid is damaged. If the feedback stops after you reposition, clean, or properly insert the device, the issue may be related to fit or use.
However, persistent feedback despite proper insertion and cleaning may indicate a problem with the fit, programming, or device components.
Other signs that your hearing aid may need professional attention include:
- Distorted or unclear sound
- Static or crackling
- Intermittent sound
- Reduced volume or output
- Buttons that do not work properly
- Charging problems
- Visible cracks or damage
- Continued whistling despite proper insertion and moderate volume
If you wear two hearing aids, you can compare their performance, but do not switch devices between ears unless they are specifically designed for either ear.
Our team can perform a hearing aid evaluation to determine whether the device needs cleaning, programming adjustments, replacement components, or professional repair.
Signs Your Hearing Aid May Not Fit Properly
A properly fitted hearing aid should remain secure and comfortable without causing significant pressure or irritation. An inadequate fit can allow amplified sound to escape around the device, increasing the likelihood of feedback.
Signs of a potential fit issue include:
- Frequent whistling during everyday activities
- A dome or earpiece that repeatedly slips out
- The hearing aid moving when you talk, chew, or smile
- A receiver wire that does not sit properly along the ear
- Ear irritation or discomfort
- A persistent plugged or blocked sensation
- Noticeable changes in sound when you push the hearing aid farther into the ear
Because ear shape and hearing needs can change over time, your hearing aids may occasionally require a new dome, receiver, tubing, earmold, or programming adjustment.
Schedule a Hearing Aid Check
Persistent hearing aid whistling does not necessarily mean that your devices need to be replaced. In many cases, the issue can be addressed through proper cleaning, a fit adjustment, programming changes, or replacement of a worn component.
If your hearing aids continue to whistle, schedule a professional hearing aid check. Our team can evaluate your ears, hearing, device fit, and hearing aid performance to determine the most appropriate solution.
Contact us today to schedule a hearing aid evaluation and get help resolving persistent hearing aid feedback.