Why does my hearing aid whistle?
A hearing aid whistles when amplified sound leaks out of your ear and is picked up again by the hearing aid’s own microphone, which makes it amplify the sound again in a loop. This is called feedback. The leak is usually caused by a hearing aid that is not sitting properly, earwax, a worn dome or earmould, or the volume being set higher than the fit can hold.
Modern hearing aids have a feedback manager that stops most whistling automatically, so frequent whistling is a sign that something needs attention.
Is it normal for a hearing aid to whistle sometimes?
Yes. A short whistle is normal when you cup your hand over the ear, hug someone, wear a tight cap or hold a phone very close to the hearing aid. It is also normal while you are putting the hearing aid in or taking it out, because the sound escapes while it is not in the ear. Whistling that happens while you are simply talking or sitting still is not normal.
What are the most common causes of hearing aid whistling?
The most common causes of hearing aid whistling are:
- The hearing aid is not inserted fully. The dome or earmould is not deep enough in the ear canal, so sound escapes.
- Earwax. Wax in the ear canal reflects sound back out of the ear. This is one of the most common causes.
- A worn or wrong-size dome. Domes stiffen and lose their shape after a few months; a dome that is too small leaves a gap.
- An old earmould or cracked tube. Earmoulds shrink and ear canals change shape with age or weight loss, leaving gaps. Cracked tubing leaks sound.
- The volume is too high. Turning up the volume beyond what the fit can hold causes whistling.
- Your hearing has changed. If your hearing has dropped and the hearing aid is turned up to compensate, a tighter fit may be needed.
- A fault. A damaged receiver, microphone or loose casing can whistle.
How can I stop my hearing aid whistling at home?
You can often stop hearing aid whistling at home in a few minutes:
- Take it out and put it back in, pushing the dome or earmould in firmly so it sits snugly. Ask a family member to check it looks the same as on the other side.
- Clean the hearing aid and change the wax guard (see our hearing aid cleaning guide).
- Check the dome or tube. If the dome is yellow, hard or torn, or the tube is cracked or hard, it needs replacing.
- Lower the volume one step and see if the whistling stops.
- Switch the hearing aid off when it is in your hand or in the box, so it does not whistle when not in your ear.
Do not dig into your ear with cotton buds, hairpins or keys to remove wax. This pushes wax deeper and can injure the ear canal.
Can earwax cause hearing aid whistling?
Yes. Earwax is one of the most common causes of hearing aid whistling, because a blocked ear canal bounces the sound back out towards the microphone. Wax also blocks the hearing aid’s wax guard and makes the sound weak. If you think you have wax, have your ears checked — we look into your ears at every visit and advise safe removal, or refer you to an ENT doctor when needed.
Why does my hearing aid whistle when I use the phone?
Your hearing aid whistles when you use the phone because the phone’s surface reflects sound back into the microphone. Hold the phone slightly above the ear, near the hearing aid’s microphone, rather than pressed flat against the ear. Better still, if your hearing aids have Bluetooth, stream calls straight into them — there is then no whistling at all. See will my hearing aids work with my phone?
When should I see my audiologist about whistling?
You should see your audiologist about whistling if it continues after you have reinserted, cleaned and checked the hearing aid, or if it started after a change in your hearing, weight or health. An audiologist can:
- Check your ears for wax and the fit of the dome or earmould
- Fit a different dome size or style, or take a new impression for a new earmould
- Re-run the feedback test in the fitting software, which re-tunes the feedback manager for your ear
- Adjust the settings if your hearing has changed
- Test the hearing aid for faults and send it for repair if needed
At Fairfield Hearing Clinics, these adjustments are free for two years after you buy your hearing aids from us. Find a clinic or book a check-up.
Can hearing aid whistling damage my hearing?
Occasional whistling is unlikely to damage your hearing, because hearing aids limit their maximum output to a safe level set for your hearing loss. It is, however, annoying for you and the people around you, and constant feedback reduces how well the hearing aid works — so it is worth fixing.
