A sudden high-pitched whistle from your hearing aid can be distracting for you and the people around you. This sound is called feedback. It happens when amplified sound leaks out of the ear and gets picked up again by the hearing aid’s microphone. The good news is that the cause is usually simple to fix. At Hear SF on Geary Boulevard in San Francisco, owner and hearing aid dispenser Michael Martinez, NB-HIS, and our team can find out exactly what is causing the whistling.
Common Causes of Hearing Aid Whistling
- Loose fit: If a hearing aid or dome isn’t seated properly, sound can escape and loop back to the microphone.
- Earwax buildup: Wax in the ear canal can bounce sound back out of the ear.
- Clogged wax guard: A blocked filter can change how sound flows through the device.
- Worn or cracked parts: Old tubing, domes or earmolds may no longer seal well.
- Volume set too high: Turning the volume up can push the device into feedback.
- Covering the device: A hand, hat, scarf or phone near your ear can trigger a whistle.
- Changes in your ear or hearing: Weight changes or aging can change the shape of the ear canal, and changes in hearing may require new settings.
Simple Fixes to Try at Home
Remove the hearing aid and put it back in, making sure it sits snugly. Clean the device and change the wax guard. Check tubing and domes for cracks or hardening. Lower the volume slightly and see if the whistling stops.
When to Bring Your Hearing Aids In
If the whistling continues, your hearing aids may need a new dome size, a refit or a settings adjustment. Earwax in the ear canal should be checked as well. Call or text Hear SF at 415-319-7301 to schedule a hearing aid check.