Hearing aids are intended to help compensate for your individual hearing loss condition. Whether you are new to wearing hearing aids or have been wearing them for years, if your hearing aids give you headaches or any other type of pain, there is an answer.
A properly adjusted hearing aid will fit comfortably in your ear and provide the quality of amplification that meets your specific requirements. If you’re experiencing any pain or discomfort you should make sure your hearing aid is adjusted precisely and that it’s the right device for you.
Signs your hearing aid needs to be adjusted
Headaches can be the outcome of improperly adjusted hearing aids. Usually, poor adjustment or improper use is the reason. If this is the situation, the following problems might arise:
- Feedback noise. Wind and other background sound can be picked up and boosted by your hearing aid, also generating screeching annoying feedback.
- Headaches and tinnitus. Hearing aids that are picking up loud sounds and amplifying them further can be painful to your ears and can cause not only headaches but also tinnitus. Usually, this means the settings are too high.
- Insufficient sound quality. Hearing aids that are not adjusted properly can amplify high-intensity sounds, creating a loud screeching sound that is bothersome and causes injury to your ears. Hearing aids in this state can also make low intensity sounds disappear.
Over-the-counter hearing aids
While over-the-counter hearing aids, commonly known as personal sound amplification devices, are available at your local pharmacy, and are less expensive than prescription hearing aids, they won’t be customized to meet your unique hearing loss needs.
Improving your hearing requires more than just amplifying sounds because hearing loss is specific to each person. Typically, distinct wavelengths of sound are lost when somebody loses their hearing. Hearing aid settings have to be adjusted to allow the individual to be able to hear effectively in different environments.
Professional hearing aid adjustment
Getting your hearing aid professionally adjusted is the best way to be certain that your device is fitted properly. We will take molds of your ears and use them to fashion a custom-fitted hearing aid device just for you. Once the right fit is attained, we will need to adjust the hearing aid settings so you can distinguish between unwanted noise and the sounds you want to hear.
Your hearing aid should also make automated adjustments, which will let you hear background sounds in various environments without interference. In order to make sure you get the right hearing aids for your personal needs, you might need to come in more than once. If you have significant hearing impairment, the adjustments to your hearing aid will be completed in stages so that your brain has time to adapt to louder sounds.
Give us a call for an appointment if you think your hearing aid might need a tune-up.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-20373072
https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing-aids#hearingaid_08