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Is this usual for hearing aids?(whistling)

14 replies

HearingAidHorror · 26/05/2023 10:31

I was going to write this on a current hearing aid thread because it started out as a simple question but then it transformed into a bit of a rant so felt a new thread was probably more suitable.

I just wanna check if its normal.I live with someone with two hearing aids, when he had one it whistled a little I think but nothing to write home about, now he has two and it whistles every day without fail multiple times a day, for minutes on end sometimes especially in the morning, normally it's so loud they'll be in a locked bathroom upstairs, and you can hear it downstairs in the frontroom on the opposite side of the house.

I just don't feel it should be that loud/ consistent but he says that they said it will whistle sometimes.

And FWIW it doesn't feel like his hearing is better at all, I'd say probably the same if not worse! He has dropped the first a few times and they dog chewed it a bit, and also hoovered it up, but I told the audiologist this when he got the second hearing aid she checked it and said it was fine but he literally didn't realise the hearing aid fell out through feeling or hearing loss, or hear the constant whistling.

When he first got it he likes to say he heard someone on the phone walking past and what they are talking about but at home he seemingly NEVER hears me and will be sitting at a table and won't hear a thing that's said, when talking someone will say something and he'll say we said something completely different.

OP posts:
x2boys · 26/05/2023 10:35

Do the batteries need changing ?
I don't wear hearing aids btw,but I used to work in elderly care and I seem to.remember some hearing aids whistled when the batteries needed changing

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 26/05/2023 10:40

Batteries need changing and/or they aren’t fitted correctly.

HearingAidHorror · 26/05/2023 10:40

No unfortunately not as he's meant to change them every week and I assume he does as I have seen him change them and it still happens. The other day for the first time I heard a little musical tone from across the kitchen which I'm guessing was the sign for low battery as I'd never heard it before ( and he didn't even register it i dont think) and he changed the battery then and it still happened later in the day

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Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 26/05/2023 10:45

Then they need to go back to their provide and get them checked that a) they are inserting them into their ears correctly and b) the aids still fit correctly, ears so change shape slightly as we get older and a new mould may need to be taken. c) the aids may have been damaged and need to be repaired.
whistling isn’t normal and is an indication there is a problem either with useable or the hearing aid.

caramac04 · 26/05/2023 11:03

Whistling is usually feedback so it could be he has turned the volume up too high. I found I couldn’t lean on my husband to snuggle as my aids whistled. As in if the aid is too close to something or smothered it whistles.
I’m surprised he puts up with it. It’s awful for the wearer. The little tune is when batteries are dead and aid switches off - on mine anyway.

HearingAidHorror · 26/05/2023 11:09

caramac04 · 26/05/2023 11:03

Whistling is usually feedback so it could be he has turned the volume up too high. I found I couldn’t lean on my husband to snuggle as my aids whistled. As in if the aid is too close to something or smothered it whistles.
I’m surprised he puts up with it. It’s awful for the wearer. The little tune is when batteries are dead and aid switches off - on mine anyway.

It's provided by the NHS and the second one was a special personalised mould he got earlier this year after having the mould taken a few months ago and whilst I got in contact with the audiology department to say about checking the first, the person who took him said it was whistling as soon as he got into the car from the appointment. The audiologist who my dad said had hearing aids themselves said some whistling is normal.

OP posts:
HearingAidHorror · 26/05/2023 11:10

Sorry replied to the wrong message

OP posts:
HearingAidHorror · 26/05/2023 11:12

caramac04 · 26/05/2023 11:03

Whistling is usually feedback so it could be he has turned the volume up too high. I found I couldn’t lean on my husband to snuggle as my aids whistled. As in if the aid is too close to something or smothered it whistles.
I’m surprised he puts up with it. It’s awful for the wearer. The little tune is when batteries are dead and aid switches off - on mine anyway.

He says its a little whistle that doesn't bother him whilst as I say we can hear it from upstairs/downstairs.

Honestly it feels like the first week he had his first hearing aid was great and then it just seemingly went back to normal/ worse

OP posts:
Mischance · 26/05/2023 11:12

Mine never whistle and never have. They are NHS and I have had them years.

They tell me when a new battery is needed, but that signal is audible only to me.

Something is wrong with your OH's and he needs to go back to whoever supplied them.

Soubriquet · 26/05/2023 11:15

Mine whistles if it’s not in correctly but it’s so loud in my ear that I quickly correct it

Whistling for long periods of times is not normal

orangeflags · 26/05/2023 11:17

Mum's did this when the tubes needed changing. They need changing every few months. Audiology at the hospital were great and did this without an appointment for her.

galliton · 26/05/2023 11:18

Whistling is feedback as others have said. It is most likely that the hearing aid is not positioned in the ear correctly. You should be able to place your hand infront of the ear while wearing the aid and there be no sound. My mother has hearing aids and we have experienced this problem before and it was always down to the fit. Good luck!

user1497207191 · 26/05/2023 11:21

No, whistling isn't normal. He needs to go back to get them adjusted.

Occitane · 26/05/2023 11:21

I’m not an expert at all, but have been told by an ENT consultant that when the hearing aid is inserted correctly, there should be a seal between the aid and the ear. If the aid does not fit correctly, there will be no seal, it will whistle and not work properly.

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