Why Do Hearing Aids Whistle?

by Jennifer Abbott | Dec 28, 2022 | Client Resources, Hearing Aids, Technology

The whistling noise you hear from your hearing aids is referred to as feedback, and it is caused by interference.

For people who wear hearing aids, chances are you have heard some sort of whistling or high-pitched hissing come from your device at some point – an experience you are likely looking to avoid.

So why are they whistling, and how can you stop it?

Why Your Hearing Aid Whistles

The whistling noise you hear from your hearing aids is referred to as feedback, and it is caused by interference.

Interference can be caused by two electronic devices close to each other. The sound coming from the device that was meant for your ear canal loops back around and ends up in the hearing aid microphone. This sound then gets reamplified in the form of whistling or high-pitched squealing.

Once your hearing aids are correctly fitted, the whistling should stop, but even if they have been professionally fitted, things can change over time, such as:

Incorrect Volume Setting

Keep the hearing aid volumes as close to the default setting as possible. It can be a natural response to turn up the volume on your hearing aids if you are having trouble hearing conversations, but when the sound is too loud, it can reverberate back to the microphone, causing feedback.

Ill-fitting Device

A snug fit is crucial to optimal hearing aid functionality. Ill-fitting hearing aids allow sound to leak out and echo back to the microphone, causing whistling or squealing.

The shape of your ear can change naturally over time, and fluctuations in weight can impact the fit of a hearing aid in the canal too.

Earwax Buildup

If the ear canal is blocked by excess earwax, the sounds have nowhere to go but back to the hearing aid microphone, resulting in feedback. Earwax tends to move around inside the ear canal, so you might only experience occasional feedback, which is still jarring.

If earwax blockages are the issue, we recommend you have your ears cleaned by a professional and also have your device checked for blockages in the receivers or vents.

Tubing & Molding Issues

Hearing aid earmolds need to form a tight seal to prevent feedback. If you do not have custom earmolds, this might be the cause of the problem. Custom earmolds are made by using impressions of the individual’s ear and this helps secure a tight seal. Even custom earmolds, though, should be checked in the ear routinely by a hearing professional to ensure there are no gaps.

Issues can also occur with the tube that connects the device to the earmold. If it becomes detached or damaged, it will need to be replaced.

Technical Issues

Like any mechanical or technological device, your hearing aid always carries the risk of technical issues. This may even involve the microphone becoming dislodged or displaced.

The Wrong Hearing Aids For You

Unfortunately, you might have bought your hearing aids from someone who was not a licensed hearing professional, and because of this, the hearing aids do not have a good feedback program. They might lower the volume on your hearing aid settings rather than get rid of the whistling problem.

The right hearing aid for you will be sized correctly and programmed properly.

Hear at Home can stop your hearing aids from whistling in the comfort of your home. Book a home visit here.

How Can I Stop My Hearing Aids from Whistling?

There are a few things you can try at home that might help stop the feedback in your hearing aids.

Have a daily cleaning routine. Brush any dust and debris off your hearing aid microphones with a soft, dry cloth, or use the special brush that came with your hearing aids.
Use a wax pick to remove wax from any difficult-to-access grooves.
Change filters as needed, and change domes at least every three months.
If your hearing aid manufacturer has a testing app for your hearing aid, run the monthly diagnostic test on it.

Where Can I Get My Whistling Hearing Aids Fixed in the Vancouver area?

Having your hearing aid device checked regularly by a hearing professional helps prevent issues before they occur and keeps your hearing aids performing optimally. Fortunately, if you live in the Vancouver area, our Hear at Home mobile hearing clinic can come to you.

Hearing aids are not a fix-it-and-forget-it device, which is why we recommend hearing aid fitting checks every three to six months. This way we can check the settings, the amount of earwax in your ear, the hearing aid tubes, molds and microphones and any other changes to the way the hearing aid fits in your ear canal.

Book an appointment for a hearing aid clean and check with Hear at Home. We look forward to seeing you and helping you benefit from hearing aids that are fully functional.

And if you are interested in upgrading your current hearing aids, we can help with that too.

Do you know somebody that needs to see this? Why not share it?

Jennifer Abbott

Jennifer Abbott brings over 25 years of experience in business. She has worked in multiple industries, including insurance brokerage, aviation, and health. Her career journey enabled her to acquire impeccable skills to help people find solutions in any situation. Jennifer is well travelled. She has lived and worked in Dubai for award-winning Emirates Airline. Jennifer has enjoyed working in a multicultural environment. Her offshore work empowered her to learn about various cultures from over 100 different nationalities. Upon her return home, Jennifer pursued her studies as a Hearing Aid Practitioner. While working in a hearing clinic, she became aware of some people’s challenges getting to their appointment. She realized that those people were not getting the proper hearing aid help they needed, which compromised their hearing. People’s struggles inspired her to establish the first unique 100% mobile hearing clinic in the lower mainland. As the founder of Hear at Home Mobile Hearing Clinic, Jennifer’s mission is to improve her client’s quality of life at any age. She has in-depth experience with hearing testing fitting, recommending hearing aids and working with older populations suffering from cognitive decline and Dementia.

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				Dani Prem			

							I was so reluctant to get hearing aids. Jennifer actually made it a wonderful experience!  She is so knowledgeable and helpful and supportive. Her customer service is above an beyond. She is so accessible and always very helpful with any questions. She is amazing and I highly recommend her to anyone that needs hearing aids or knows anyone who does
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 27/11/2021

				J Miller			

							I really really enjoy Karen Tyrell’s presentations. I used to work at Courtyard gardens in sales, and there were a few of the residents and potential residents with dementia. I knew nothing of it until I started attending & taking Karen’s presentations & training sessions. I do not have anyone in my life that has dementia but friends with parents that do. I may go back to work in a seniors residence so the more education the better! I would attend another webinar held at Hear at Home Mobile Hearing Center.
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 20/02/2023

				Janice Porter			

							Visiting Jennifer at her new storefront Hearing Clinic was such a positive experience.  It is easy to get to, there is parking right out front ... and it is a beautiful, welcoming place.  The ambience in the clinic is warm and inviting, and Jennifer has created a very friendly and professional clinic.  I am really excited for her as she embarks on the next level ... congrats Jen!
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 09/12/2022

				Richard George			

							I was looking for a certified ear wax removal as I thought that was the cause of my hearing issues and I found Hear At Home. Jennifer did a ear exam and removed wax build up from ears. I can hear clearly again! She also did a hearing test and took the time to talk through my results. Jennifer and the team were helpful, and hospitable. Provided excellent service. I highly recommend them!
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 09/04/2023

				Blessing Malambane Mokoena			

							I made a deposit of $1000 into my trading account and with the aid of Mrs Robert Stella I was able to earn $ 12,400 in just one week. Don't miss out to contact her now that the stock market is moving and highly profitable

Email: robertstlla385@gmail.com

WhatsApp: +1(717) 742-0664
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 27/03/2023

				Emily James			

							We met Jennifer by chance and on finding out my son is hearing impaired, she immediately and selflessly offered to help us.  I realize Jennifer deals mainly with adults, but she is truly amazing with kids.  When she worked with my son, she was engaging, patient and kind.  She talked directly to him and helped him understand how the devices worked so he could take ownership and have the confidence to operate everything on his own.  It is obvious that Jennifer cares deeply about the people she is working with and enjoys what she is doing.  She understands the subtle challenges people with hearing impairment face and is passionate in her desire to improve their quality of life.  I would highly recommend Jennifer to anyone (child or adult) with hearing impairment.  She is understanding and empathetic and explains everything so clearly.
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 27/10/2020

				Heather Prochuk			

							I resisted doing something about my hearing loss for many years -partly denial on my part, but also because I felt the professional I consulted many years ago seemed more interested in selling hearing aids rather than addressing my needs. My experience with Jennifer couldn't have been better. She obviously cares about her clients -using gentle humour to put me at ease.  She was patient, thorough and explained everything without overwhelming me with information.  I felt totally confident that my needs and well-being was her primary focus. A whole new hearing world has opened up for me now-I never realized how much I was missing before getting my hearing aides. She continues to follow up - which reinforces for me that she sincerely cares and wants only the best for her clients. Thank you, Jennifer.
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				Jennifer L			

							I don’t usually write reviews for companies, but I just had to share my experience this time. Jennifer was attentive, efficient and professional. My grandmother lost her hearing aid at her nursing home. Jennifer understood the urgency and got it replaced as soon as possible, by rushing to the home as soon as she got the hearing aid mailed to her. Every step of the way, she took the time to communicate with my family as well as the nursing home staff. She would send me pictures and call me to keep me updated. She also made sure that we were completely satisfied with the product. Jennifer went above and beyond by helping my family manage a very stressful situation. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a hearing aid for themselves or a loved one.
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 27/10/2021

				L Ng			

							My mom has hearing impairment that must have been there for a long time but got overlooked, she recently moved into a nursing home in Richmond. We were in the market looking for getting her ear properly tested and find a device that fits both her hearing needs and our budget. My mom has limited mobility so finding out Hear At Home Mobile clinic will come to her is absolutely thrilled. Jennifer responded promptly upon my initial inquiry and appointment was setup within a week.  Jennifer is very friendly, patience and accommodating with my mom when testing her (mom doesn’t speaks any English). She explains in detail the test results, types of option available out there, and help us make an informed decision with her professional expertise and experience. Jennifer even goes to extra miles to provide alternative consultation via video call to walk me through the steps trouble shooting and resetting the device after we started using it for 2 months. I explained and showed her the device condition on the video call, she was able to give a diagnosis as well as guide me through the reset process. In just a few minutes the issue was resolved. It was just a technical glitch and a hard reset is all it takes for it to return to working mode again. Jennifer is certainly professional and resourceful. We have an exceptional positive experience with Hear At Home Mobile Hearing Clinic and Jennifer is amazing helping us during the entire course, we would highly recommend her service to anyone who needs hearing aids to be fitted with a caring professional.
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 08/11/2022

				DBL			

							My family dealt with Jennifer Abbott at Hear at Home Mobile Hearing Clinic for hearing aids for our 90 yr old mother.  Jennifer was extremely patient and understanding in her interactions with our Mum.  I was particularly pleased that Jennifer spoke directly to Mum, addressing all questions and responses to her and ensuring her total engagement in the process. When responses to tests were different, Jennifer spent the time for a retest to ensure accuracy and had new moulds prepared so that Mum got the best possible benefit from her new aids.  I would not hesitate to recommend Jennifer and Hear at Home Mobile Hearing Clinic to anyone looking for extraordinary service.
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