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.

Hearing aids are intended to help compensate for your individual hearing loss problem. If your hearing aids are giving you headaches or any other type of discomfort, whether you’ve been using them for years or you’re a new user, there’s a solution.

If your hearing aid is properly adjusted it will meet your individual needs and fit in your ear comfortably. If you’re experiencing any pain or discomfort you should make sure your hearing aid is adjusted properly and that it’s the right device for you.

Indications your hearing aid needs to an adjustment

If your hearing aids are not precisely fitted, they can trigger headaches. Normally, inadequate adjustment or incorrect use is the reason. If this is the case, the following issues might arise:

  • 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. This normally occurs in hearing aids with internal control settings that have been set too high.
  • Inadequate sound quality. Hearing aids that are not adjusted well can boost high-intensity sounds, generating a loud screeching sound that is bothersome and causes injury to your ears. And low volume sound can get lost with hearing aids in this state.
  • Feedback noise. Wind and other background noise can be picked up and boosted by your hearing aid, also generating screeching frustrating feedback.

Over-the-counter hearing aids

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

Improving your hearing requires more than just amplifying sounds because hearing loss is unique to each person. There are many instances of hearing loss where individuals lose the ability to hear a specific frequency. Hearing aid settings have to be adjusted to help the person hear adequately in different environments.

Having your hearing aid professionally adjusted

One of the most useful ways to make sure your hearing aid is properly fitted is to have your personalized hearing aid fitted and adjusted. Custom-fitted hearing aids will be fabricated just for you utilizing molds of your ears. 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.

Your hearing aid should also make automatic adjustments, which will allow you to hear background noises in various environments without interference. In order to make sure you get the right hearing aids for your personal needs, you may need to come in more than once. If you have severe hearing loss, the adjustments to your hearing aid will be completed in stages so that your brain has time to adjust to louder sounds.

If you believe you may be dealing with an out of tune hearing aid, call us today and make an appointment to get it checked out.

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.