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The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
Gail Linn, MA, CCC-A
My Hearing Aid Is Always Squealing What Can I Do?
Potomac Audiology

My Hearing Aid Is Always Squealing What Can I Do?

One of the most annoying problems that individuals face when wearing hearing aids is squealing or feedback. This is simply caused by amplified sound coming from the hearing aid that finds its way back into the microphone. Severe hearing losses require more amplification. The more amplification that a hearing aid has the more susceptible it is to feedback. Some of the typical causes and solutions are
Physical Fit of the Hearing Aid
The physical fit of the hearing aid is critical and is as important as the circuitry in the hearing aid. If the hearing aid or earmold is not delivering the sound properly, than the hearing aid will not be providing the proper amplification. Some typical physical fit problems are
The hearing aid or earmold is too loose. A loose fit will allow too much sound to leak around the edges of the hearing aid.
The canal portion of the hearing aid is too short. Again this allows too much sound to leak around the edges.
The receiver opening delivering sound to the ear is pointing towards the ear canal wall. This causes more sound to be deflected and hence too much sound leaking around the edges.
The solution to all of the above problems would be to have a custom in-the-ear hearing aid recased. In the case of behind-the-ear hearing aids a new earmold may solve the problem. There are also products that can be used in the audiologists office that can be put on the hearing aid or earmold to produce a tighter fit.
Wax In the Ear Canal
If there is wax in the ear canal, sound that is coming out of the hearing aid bumps into the wax and is deflected causing more sound to leak around the edges. Often when wax is removed the feedback stops. A visit to the audiologist to have the wax cleaned out is often the solution.
Wax Inside the Hearing Aid
If there is wax inside the hearing aid, sound coming from the internal receiver bumps into the wax and goes back inside the case causing “internal” feedback. Typically cleaning the hearing aid will solve this problem. Sometimes a visit to the audiologist is required where special equipment can remove the wax more thoroughly.
Venting In the Hearing Aid or Earmold Is too Large
Almost all hearing aid or earmolds have a vent that allows air to flow through and ventilate the canal. If the vent is too large, too much sound may be leaking around the edges. Reducing the size of the vent often will solve this problem.
New Hearing Aid Technology
Less Susceptible to Feedback
One of the most exciting developments in the last few years is hearing aids that control feedback. Almost every hearing aid manufacturer today has some sort of feedback intercept that either reduces feedback or completely cancels it. These feedback controls are called different, an example of some are
Feedback Phase Inverter
Whistle Block Technology
Feedback Cancellation
Controlling feedback is important. The above suggestions and the technology available should help anyone who is experiencing feedback.

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