Can Hearing Aids Cause Headaches?

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

Everybody’s hearing loss situation is unique and hearing aids are designed to make up for those individual conditions. Whether you are new to using hearing aids or have been using them for years, if your hearing aids give you headaches or any other type of pain, there is a solution.

A correctly adjusted hearing aid will fit comfortably in your ear and provide the quality of amplification that meets your specific requirements. If this is not the situation, you should make certain you have the correct type of hearing aid and that it’s been properly adjusted.

Your hearing aid requires adjustment if you experience any of these signs

Headaches can be the outcome of poorly adjusted hearing aids. The reason for this is that they are not being used properly, or haven’t been adjusted for a while. If this is the case, the following problems may arise:

  • Headaches and tinnitus. Hearing aids that are picking up loud sounds and further amplifying them can be painful to your ears and can lead to not only headaches but also tinnitus. This usually happens in hearing aids with internal control settings that have been set too high.
  • Inadequate sound quality. Hearing aids that are not adjusted properly can boost high-intensity sounds, generating a loud screeching sound that’s aggravating and causes damage to your ears. Hearing aids in this condition can also make low intensity sounds inaudible.
  • Feedback noise. Wind and other background noise can be picked up and amplified by your hearing aid, also producing screeching frustrating feedback.

Over-the-counter hearing aids

Even though you can go to a local store and get a less expensive personal amplification device (over the counter hearing aid), these devices will not be customized for your personal hearing loss requirements.

Hearing loss is distinct to every person so simply amplifying all sounds won’t be enough to help your hearing. There are lots of cases of hearing loss in which individuals lose the ability to hear a specific frequency. In order for a hearing aid help people hear clearly in different settings, they will need accurate adjustment.

Professional hearing aid adjustment

Having your hearing aid professionally adjusted is the best way to make sure your device is correctly fitted. We will take molds of your ears and use them to make 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 differentiate unwanted noise and the sounds you want to amplify.

You should also be able to hear sound in lots of different environments with automated adjustments made by your hearing aids. 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 done in stages to allow your brain time to adjust to louder sounds.

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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