If you wear hearing aids, you may have experienced a high-pitched whistling sound—especially when putting them on, hugging someone, wearing a mask, or holding a phone close to your ear. This sound is called feedback, and while it can be annoying, it’s also very common and usually fixable.
Let’s break down why hearing aids whistle and what you can do about it.
What Is Hearing Aid Feedback?
Hearing aids work by:
1. Picking up sound through microphones
2. Amplifying it
3. Delivering it into the ear through the receiver
Feedback happens when amplified sound leaks out of the ear and is picked up again by the microphone, creating a sound loop. This loop produces the familiar whistling or squealing noise.
Common Causes of Hearing Aid Whistling
1. Poor Fit (Most Common Cause)
· Ear tips or domes are too small
· The hearing aid is not fully inserted
· Ear shape has changed over time
When sound leaks out of the ear canal, feedback is more likely to occur.
2. Higher Amplification for More Severe Hearing Loss
People with moderate to severe hearing loss need higher gain.
Higher amplification increases the risk of feedback—especially without good acoustic sealing or advanced feedback control.
Higher amplification increases the risk of feedback—especially without good acoustic sealing or advanced feedback control.
3. Objects Close to the Ear
Feedback often happens when:
· Wearing a face mask
· Using a phone
· Wearing a hat
· Hugging someone
These objects reflect sound back toward the hearing aid microphones.
4. Earwax Buildup
Earwax can block sound from entering the ear properly, causing it to reflect outward instead—leading to feedback, even if the hearing aid is working normally.
How to Reduce or Eliminate Feedback
✅ 1. Check the Fit
· Make sure the hearing aid is fully and correctly inserted
· Ensure the ear tip fits securely and the receiver length is appropriate.
· For more information on achieving a proper fit, please refer to “why-comfort-matters-in-hearing-aid-use”
✅ 2. Use the Right Ear Tip or Dome
· Try a larger or more closed dome
· Replace worn or hardened domes
· For more information on how to choose the correct dome type, please refer to “how-to-choose-the-correct-hearing-aid-dome”
Better sealing = less sound leakage = less feedback.
✅ 3. Keep Ears and Devices Clean
· Check for earwax regularly
· Clean domes and replace wax filters as recommended. Please refer to ”how-to-clean-your-ears-safely-without-harming-your-hearing”
This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce feedback.
✅ 4. Adjust the Volume
· Slightly lowering the volume can help reduce feedback. Please refer to “dual-channel-volume-adjustment-for-hearing-aids”
· Volume can be adjusted using the buttons on the hearing aids or through the app
✅ 5. Contact Professional Support
· If feedback persists after trying the steps above, professional assistance may be needed.
· Please contact supportcenter@yeasound.com, and a hearing care specialist will get in touch to help resolve the issue.
