Can Headaches be Triggered by Hearing Aids?

A distraught senior man sitting on his couch suffering from a headache because his hearing aids were not properly adjusted.

Hearing aids are intended to help compensate for your unique hearing loss problem. Whether you are new to using hearing aids or have been using them for years, if your hearing aids cause headaches or any other type of pain, there is a solution.

A correctly adjusted hearing aid will fit comfortably in your ear and give you the quality of amplification that meets your specific requirements. If you’re noticing any pain or discomfort you should ensure that your hearing aid is adjusted properly and that it’s the correct device for you.

Indications your hearing aid needs to an adjustment

If your hearing aids are not precisely fitted, they can lead to headaches. Usually, inadequate adjustment or improper use is the reason. If this is the case, the following problems might occur:

  • 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. Normally, this means the settings are too high.
  • Feedback noise. Your hearing aid may pick up and amplify background noise, like wind, which can also cause irritating, high-pitched feedback sounds.
  • Inadequate sound quality. Improperly adjusted hearing aids can increase the volume of high intensity sound causing a loud irritating feedback that can harm your ears. And low intensity sound can get lost with hearing aids in this state.

Over-the-counter hearing aids

While over-the-counter hearing aids, typically called personal sound amplification devices, are obtainable at your local drug store, and are less expensive than prescription hearing aids, they won’t be customized to meet your unique hearing loss requirements.

Improving your hearing demands more than simply amplifying sounds because hearing loss is unique to each person. There are lots of cases of hearing loss in which individuals lose the ability to hear a certain frequency. Hearing aid settings have to be adjusted to allow the individual to be able to hear effectively in different settings.

Professional hearing aid adjustment

One of the best ways to make sure your hearing aid is properly fitted is to have your personalized hearing aid fitted and adjusted. We will take molds of your ears and use them to make a custom-fitted hearing aid device just for you. Once the proper fit is obtained, we will need to adjust the hearing aid settings so you can differentiate unwanted noise and the sounds you want to amplify.

You should also be able to hear sound in many different settings with automated adjustments made by your hearing aids. This might require a few visits to make sure you get the hearing aid that’s best for you and correct for your lifestyle. And with significant hearing loss, your brain will need to become accustomed to hearing again in stages, so your hearing aid will have to be programmed in stages.

Contact us for an appointment if you think your hearing aid may 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

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.

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