Does your hearing aid sound a little like a teapot these days? Feedback is a common problem with hearing aids but not something that can’t be fixed. Understanding how hearing aids work and what is behind that incessant whistling will get you one step closer to eliminating it. What can you do about hearing aid feedback?
How Do Hearing Aids Work?
Hearing aids, at their core, are really just a microphone and a speaker. The microphone picks up the sound and the speaker plays it in your ear. It’s what happens between the microphone and speaker that gets complicated.
Once a sound wave enters the microphone it is converted to an electrical analog signal for processing. The analog version is then translated into digital by the hearing aid’s processor. Once digital, the various features and settings of the device kick in to amplify and clarify the sound.
The processor then changes the signal back to analog and sends it to the receiver. At this point, what was once a sound is an analog electrical signal and that’s not something your ears can hear. The receiver converts it back to its original form and sends it through your ear canal. Elements in the cochlea convert it back into an electrical signal that the brain can interpret.
It all sounds very complex but it happens in a nanosecond. What goes wrong to cause the feedback whistle, though?
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How do Feedback Loops Happen?
Feedback doesn’t just happen in hearing aids. You hear that same whistle in most sound systems that use a microphone. Essentially, the microphone is picking up sound that is coming from the receiver and reamplifying it. The sound wave enters the microphone, goes through the processing and then the receiver turns it back into a sound wave. The microphone then picks up that sound wave again and amplifies it creating the feedback loop. Put simply, the hearing aid is hearing itself and doesn’t like it.
What Causes Hearing Aid Feedback?
There are a number of things that can go wrong to create this feedback loop. One of the most common causes is turning the hearing aid on in your hand and then putting it into your ear. Your hearing aid begins processing sound waves as soon as you hit the “on” switch. The sound coming from the receiver bounces off your hand back into the microphone causing the feedback. The answer to this problem is pretty simple; wait until the device is snuggly in your ear before hitting the switch.
Sometimes hearing aids don’t fit as well as they should and that leads to feedback. Loose fittings tend to happen with older hearing aids or if you’ve lost weight since having yours fitted. In that case, you need to head back to the retailer and have the piece adjusted to fit your ear properly again.
Earwax and Feedback
Earwax isn’t your friend when it comes to hearing aids. Earwax buildup on the casing of the hearing aid keeps it from fitting right. When that happens, the device is once again loose and causing feedback. Read the manual that came with your hearing aids or ask the retailer to find out how to clean earwax off without damaging the device.
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Maybe It’s Just Broke
When you’ve tried everything else but the whistling continues, this is where you head next. A damaged hearing aid will indeed cause feedback. The casing might have a crack in it somewhere, for example. Don’t try to fix the unit yourself. Take it in for professional repair.
When Is Feedback Not Really Feedback
There is a possibility that what you are hearing is not feedback at all. Some hearing aids use sound to warn you of impending problems like a low battery. Listen to the sound. Is it really a whistling noise or does it sound more like a beep? Check the manual to see if your device has this feature and what other warnings you should listen for in the future.
Feedback doesn’t discriminate by brand or style. Most hearing aids are capable of producing it and the cause is usually pretty clear.