In a nutshell: When a hearing aid whistles, sound escapes from the ear canal and is picked up by the microphone again – this is called feedback. The most common cause is an improperly or poorly fitting earmold or an incorrectly inserted dome. Other triggers include cerumen in the ear canal, as well as wear and tear on the earmold and sound tube. The checklist below will usually help you find the reason yourself.
Why does a hearing aid whistle at all?
The whistling is an acoustic short circuit: amplified sound, which should actually remain in the ear canal, escapes and returns to the microphone. The hearing aid amplifies it again, and this loop creates the whistling sound. The cause is almost always a leak between the ear and the hearing system.
Cause number one: the fit in the ear
From our daily practice in the specialist shop, we can say: By far the most common reason is an improperly or poorly fitting earmold or a dome that is not correctly seated in the ear canal. More about fit, cleaning, and replacement can be found in the guide Domes.
For behind-the-ear (BTE) devices
If you wear an earmold, check in order: Is it sitting correctly in the ear? Is earwax sticking to its outer wall? Even a small deposit can break the seal. Does the earmold have visible damage? And if it has a sound tube: Is the tube undamaged, soft, and flexible? A hardened or torn tube must be replaced.
If you wear a dome, check whether the receiver and dome disappear completely into the ear canal. The receiver cable should lie against the skin at the transition from ear to head. Very often, the receiver with the dome is only loosely in the auricle instead of in the ear canal, and that's exactly when it whistles.
A hint that hardly anyone knows: Our ears grow throughout our lives. Earmolds that are older than about 3 years often no longer seal properly and start to wobble. In that case, only a new impression by the audiologist and a new earmold will help.
For in-the-ear (ITE) devices
For in-the-ear devices, the same principles apply, and we distinguish between two designs. You treat custom-made ITEs like an earmold, but without a sound tube: Check the fit, remove earwax from the outer wall, check for damage. They are often made a little larger so that they still fit well even after more than 3 years. For ITEs with domes (for example, the Signia Silk or the AudioService quiX), you should pay particular attention to the correct fit, as this design tends to slip in the ear canal. They are also available with a very small earmold, in which case the same applies. For cleaning, the auriFIX spray and cleaning wipes are also suitable for ITEs.
The self-help sequence
- Remove, clean, and consciously reinsert the earmold, dome, or ITE.
- Check the earmold, tube, and dome for damage and hardening.
- Clean the device with auriFIX spray or a cleaning wipe.
When you should see an audiologist
If it continues to whistle after all checks, the ear itself should be examined: A blocked ear canal can also cause feedback. The audiologist will look into the ear and, if necessary, refer you to an ENT doctor for cleaning. Alternatively, a re-adjustment of the hearing aids may be necessary.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my hearing aid only whistle when I put it in? This is normal: As long as the system is not sealed in the ear, sound escapes. If the whistling does not disappear after insertion, the fit is incorrect.
Why does it whistle when I put my hand to my ear? Your hand reflects the sound back to the microphone. A short whistle during this is harmless.
My hearing aid is over 3 years old and whistles more and more often. Is that a coincidence? Probably not. Check if the earmold is still firmly seated. After about 3 years, a new one is often due because the ear canal has changed.
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