Tips For Troubleshooting Hearing Aid Squeal

The transition to wearing a hearing aid can be challenging and not without its issues. Understanding some of the common problems that you might encounter can help you to be better prepared to deal with them. For example, one of the most startling problems you might encounter is a high-pitched, loud squeal from the hearing aid. Here are a few tips to help you narrow down the cause of the problem so you can clear it up.

Is The Volume Too High?

Sometimes, the volume on the hearing aid can be turned up too high, causing feedback that produces that squeal. If your hearing aid has a manual adjustment for the volume, try turning it down a little. Sometimes, that's enough to stop the feedback. You shouldn't have to turn the volume down so far that you struggle to hear, though. If you do, that's a sign that there's another problem. If your hearing aid doesn't have a manual control, you'll need to have your audiologist adjust it.

Is It Positioned Properly?

If the hearing aid isn't properly set in your ear, sound can bounce back along your ear canal and cause feedback as well. That feedback causes the squeal. Push the hearing aid into your ear slightly to see if that fixes the problem. If so, you'll want to see your audiologist to have the hearing aid adjusted to ensure that it fits properly.

Does It Need Cleaning?

Ear wax can be problematic for hearing aids because it can clog the microphone and the receiver. This often causes feedback because the sound cannot travel properly through the device. Clean the hearing aid according to the instructions provided by your audiologist to see if that clears it up.

Does It Need Maintenance?

If none of these steps eliminate the squeal you're hearing, that may indicate that there's a bitter problem at hand. In that case, you'll need to have the hearing aid serviced. Take it to a hearing aid technician who can evaluate it and help you resolve the problem. He or she can do a more in-depth cleaning and inspection, replacing any damaged parts if necessary.

While there's no way to completely prevent squealing from ever happening with your hearing aid, knowing how to respond to it can help. With the information here, you can narrow down the source of the problem or at least reach out to someone who can help. If you suspect that you suffer from hearing loss, contact an audiologist today.   


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