Muskegon Hearing & Speech Center | FAQ

Feedback or Whistling

You’re hearing aid could feedback or whistle
normally when you cover it with your hand or
the telephone. If you’re trying to turn the
volume up to hear comfortably and your getting feedback there could be a number of things to check. The first thing would be to check to make sure that there isn’t any earwax blocking the ear canal.

The second thing would be to check to see if the hearing aid itself doesn’t have internal feedback. The way you do this is block the sound opening and turn the hearing aid on full volume. If someone with normal hearing can still hear the hearing aid whistle, then it could be a problem inside the hearing aid.

If your hearing aid is three to four years old, it could be a fit problem. You may not believe this, but the ears will still grow after everything else stops. After a number of years, the hearing aid may be looser in the ear canal allowing the sound to leak around the aid and get picked up by the microphone.

The hearing aid could have a bad frequency or response with a spike at the feedback frequency. This may necessitate a repair. The hearing aid may also need a remake in order to get rid of the feedback condition. If the hearing aid is older, it may not be worth putting the money into a repair/remake and especially with the newer technology available today.

This information is general in nature and not intended as advice or to replace contacting your dispenser, audiologist or physician.

© 2000 Muskegon Hearing & Speech Center