6 common hearing aid concerns and how to help fix them

Hearing aids may help you hear the sounds around you better. But like most electronic devices, they sometimes develop glitches. So instead of hearing conversations more clearly, you might hear whistling instead. Or your hearing aids may not fit snugly into your ears and fall out at just the wrong time. That can be frustrating, for sure.

The good news is that there are often simple solutions. Sometimes you might be able to solve the issue yourself. Other times, you may need to get in touch with a hearing care professional, such as an audiologist, hearing aid dispenser, or hearing instrument specialist, to do the troubleshooting.

Here is what you need to know if your hearing aids act up.

Issue #1: You hear a whistling sound

Or maybe you hear a hissing or screeching sound that interferes with the show you’re watching. That’s the sound of feedback from your hearing aid.¹ “Feedback is never something we want. Don’t put up with it,” says Rachel Sours. She’s a hearing instrument specialist at Willoughby Hearing Aid centers in North Plains, Oregon.

Feedback typically happens if the device doesn’t fit right, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Or sometimes the hearing aids could be clogged with fluid or earwax.¹

What to do: You’ll want to see a hearing care professional (such as an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist) to make an adjustment. “It’s not urgent, but it should be a pretty pressing appointment,” says Sours. AARP® Hearing Solutions™ provided by UnitedHealthcare Hearing has a wide network of providers. The program also offers discounts on hearing aids and a no-cost hearing exam and consultation.

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Issue #2: Your hearing aid falls out when you’re active

Does your device pop out when you’re playing tennis or doing yoga? Often this happens in both ears. But sometimes it’s just one side that’s falling out more because your ears are shaped differently, says Sours.

Another reason? You’re not inserting the devices securely enough. People sometimes have this issue with new hearing aids. “Sometimes people think the hearing aid is in, but it’s not,” Sours adds.

What to do: Have your hearing aids fitted again by a hearing care professional. Learning how to wear a hearing aid can take time when you get a new device, notes Sours.

She recommends going back to your provider to improve the fit or for more hands-on instructions on how to wear them. “Don’t just push through. We do not settle for a hearing aid that keeps falling out,” she says.

Issue #3: Your ear (or hearing aid) is plugged up with wax

Earwax is key for keeping your ears healthy and clean. This sticky substance protects your ear canal from infections. It moisturizes your ear canal skin. And it traps dirt and dust.²

Your body normally gets rid of earwax on its own. The wax moves from your inner ear to your outer ear, where it falls out. But hearing aids may block wax from moving out of the ear canal, according to the American Academy of Audiology.³ Wearing hearing aids could also cause the glands in the ear canal to produce more wax.

And too much earwax might muffle your hearing. It could also produce feedback or cause your hearing aids to malfunction.² “The best hearing aid in the world won’t do you any good if the ear is plugged,” says Sours.

What to do: Try gently cleaning your hearing aids. They might have come with a cleaning tool, such as a brush or pick.⁴ Your hearing care professional can also show you how to clean the devices.

But what about the excess wax in your ear canal? You should never try digging it out with a cotton swab or paper clip or any other pointed object, says the Cleveland Clinic.² That can damage your eardrum. Instead, try over-the-counter wax-softening eardrops or mineral oil or baby oil.⁵ Or talk to your primary care provider (PCP) or hearing care professional. They are trained to remove excess wax safely.

To help prevent buildup, have your PCP or hearing care professional do a checkup every 3 to 6 months to keep things clear.⁴ And if wax continues to be a problem for you, consider getting fitted for another type of hearing aid. Sometimes a device that is too snug or goes too far into the ear canal may be the culprit.³

If you’re a member of AARP®, you get up to 3 follow-up visits at no extra cost — and a trial period to try out your new prescription hearing aids. Learn more.

Issue #4: Your hearing aids hurt

Your hearing aids should feel comfortable. If they hurt, that may signal some sort of problem. There are many things that could be going on, says Sours. This includes:

• A badly fitting device
• Inflammation
• Infection
• Something is stuck inside your ear (such as a bug or a tiny piece of the device itself)

Pay attention to whether the pain is physical or if you feel pain from a sound that’s coming from the device. Either way, pain with hearing is your body telling you that something is not right, says Sours.

What to do: “Pain and discomfort warrant an immediate call to your provider,” says Sours. Your hearing care professional needs to fix this as quickly as possible so you can get back to living your life.

Issue #5: Your hearing aids do not turn on – or they turn off quickly

It may be a battery or charging issue that’s causing the problem. If your hearing aids use traditional button batteries, the batteries may need to be replaced or reinserted correctly. Are your devices rechargeable? Maybe they weren’t plugged into the charger in the right way or weren’t charged for enough time before you wore them again.⁶

What to do: Check your power sources. Try checking the manual too. If that fails, call your hearing care professional.

Issue #6: Everything sounds really loud

If you’ve never worn hearing aids before, you can expect an adjustment period. You may be surprised at how loud your voice sounds in your head, for example.¹ This is known as the “occlusion affect,” according to NIDCD. It’s common among new hearing aid wearers.

What to do: Give it time, at least at first. Many people get used to it. “When getting adjusted to hearing aids, if you find you’re making an improvement each day, trust the process,” says Sours. But if every sound seems off, you’re hearing too much background noise, or you’re not making those improvements, talk to your hearing care professional. They may need to adjust your hearing aids.

Just remember, these challenges with hearing aids are common. They’re usually easily solved though. Your hearing care professional stands ready to help, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

Sources

1. Hearing aids National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Last updated October 11, 2022.
2. Earwax Cleveland Clinic. Last reviewed January 17, 2023.
3. Ear wax blockage American Academy of Audiology. Accessed May 28, 2024.  
4. Our guide to keeping your hearing aids clean National Council on Aging. Updated January 25, 2024.
5. Ear wax National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Last reviewed May 30, 2022.
6. Daily care and troubleshooting tips for hearing aids American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Published 2022.

Information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed medical provider. Consult your provider prior to making changes to your lifestyle or health care routine.

AARP Hearing Solutions is available to all AARP members and does not require a health insurance plan from UnitedHealthcare. The AARP hearing program discount cannot be combined with any other discounts, promotions, coupons or hearing aid benefit plans unless noted herein. Products or services that are reimbursable by federal programs including Medicare and Medicaid are not available on a discounted or complimentary basis. AARP commercial member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions. Please contact the provider directly for details. UnitedHealthcare Hearing is provided through UnitedHealthcare, offered to existing members of certain products underwritten or provided by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates to provide specific hearing aid discounts. This is not an insurance nor managed care product, and fees or charges for services in excess of those defined in program materials are the member's responsibility. UnitedHealthcare does not endorse nor guarantee hearing aid products/services available through the hearing program. This program may not be available in all states or for all group sizes. Components subject to change.

Hearing aids purchased in the Silver technology level will receive 1 follow-up visit.

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