What to Do if Your Hearing Aid Makes a Whistling Noise

Whistling is an annoying sound in many situations, but it could be a clue that something is wrong with your hearing aids. Hearing aids might whistle for a variety of reasons, but pretty much all of them are fixable.

A rapid, quick whistling sound in your hearing aid can be triggered by a variety of activities, including simple activities such as moving about.  Some of these whistles may indicate that your hearing aid needs to be repaired, while others can be resolved with simple tweaks.

It Is Not Being Worn Correctly

This is a frequent occurrence with hearing aid wearers, especially in the early days when you are still getting used to putting it on and operating it. When your hearing aid is placed incorrectly in your ear, it might produce feedback troubles such as whistling. Try removing your hearing aids and double-check that they are in the correct ears. If this does not work, try inserting the receiver further deeper into your ear. Whistling can be caused by wearing your hearing aids too loosely, so check that you are wearing them correctly.

They Are Blocked with Earwax or Other Debris

Sound is transmitted into your ear canal by your hearing aids. If the sound has nowhere to go, it will reverberate back into your hearing aid, resulting in whistling feedback. A blockage in your aural canal might be caused by an accumulation of earwax. If left untreated, this can cause earaches, interfere with your hearing aid and potentially ruin your hearing aid. If it is a constant issue, have your ears professionally cleaned, but otherwise, a quick wipe over every evening when you take them out or in the morning before you put them in with a dry cloth should keep them clean.

The Earmolds or Tubing Has Not Been Correctly Fitted

Your ears may vary in shape over time. Your earmolds may begin to warp and fit incorrectly because of this. Sound can escape out of a loose seal, causing your hearing aid to whistle. Simply visit your audiologist and request a fresh pair of earmolds. Tubes, like earmolds, can deteriorate with time and need to be replaced. The tube may shrivel or split, resulting in the annoying whistling and feedback.

You Have the Volume Turned Up Too High

Turning up the volume on your hearing aids might cause feedback and whistling by pushing sound back into them. To avoid this, simply turn down your hearing aid and do not turn it up past a specific threshold. If you are having trouble hearing even while wearing your hearing aids, go back to your audiologist.

You Are Wearing Something That Can Interfere with It 

The feedback path of your hearing aids can be altered by wearing hats, scarves and other head coverings. The whistle, as well as a succession of beeps and sound interference, can emerge as a result of this. Remove your scarf or headgear to avoid this. This problem can potentially be alleviated by lowering the volume on your hearing aid.