How to Reduce Feedback in an Assisted Hearing Device
For people with auditory loss, assisted hearing devices, also known as hearing aids, are an essential part of life. This can be marred, however, by annoying feedback from the device. When this occurs, it is important to understand how to reduce the sound so that you can hear comfortably once again.
- Have your ears checked for wax. If there is a buildup, ask your doctor to flush it. This may eliminate or reduce the amount of feedback that was caused from blockage.
- Take out the hearing aid and reinsert it to check that it is resting in the ear properly. The device should sit snugly in your ear so that there are no gaps. If there are gaps the aid is no longer fitting properly. Test the fit by gently pushing the device in your ear to see if the sound ceases. If it does, the fit is too loose.
- Take the molds to be remade if they are loose and no longer fit firmly in your ear. Old devices and weight loss are some of the reasons why this can occur.
- Lower the volume if possible. A hearing aid that is set too high can produce feedback, in which case lowering the volume may resolve the issue. This is not possible for everyone however, as in many cases the volume must be set at a certain level to hear properly.
- Take your hearing aids to your audiologist or hearing aid specialist and ask if it is possible to plug the vents to reduce the feedback.
- Switch the style of hearing aid that you use if you have a smaller device. This is because smaller aids are more apt to produce feedback due to the placement of the microphone. Consider a device that sits behind the ear instead. Another option is to switch to a digital programmable hearing aid which can eliminate feedback courtesy of sensors that make the necessary adjustments.