Can Headaches be Caused by Hearing Aids?

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

Everyone’s hearing loss condition 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 wearing them for years, if your hearing aids cause 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 needs. If this is not the situation, you should make certain you have the correct type of hearing aid and that it’s been precisely adjusted.

Signs your hearing aid needs to be adjusted

Headaches can be the result of incorrectly adjusted hearing aids. Typical, poor adjustment or incorrect use is the reason. If this is the situation, the following problems may arise:

  • Feedback noise. Wind and other background noise can be picked up and boosted by your hearing aid, also causing screeching annoying feedback.
  • Poor sound quality. Poorly adjusted hearing aids can boost the volume of high intensity sound causing a loud irritating feedback that can damage your ears. Hearing aids in this condition can also make low intensity sounds disappear.
  • Headaches and tinnitus. Loud noises that get amplified further can also trigger headaches and even tinnitus. Typically, this means the settings are too loud.

Over-the-counter hearing aids

While over-the-counter hearing aids, generally known as personal sound amplification devices, are available at your local pharmacy, and cost less than prescription hearing aids, they won’t be tailored to meet your unique hearing loss requirements.

Improving your hearing requires more than merely amplifying sounds because hearing loss is specific to the individual. There are many cases of hearing loss where people 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 customized hearing aid fitted and adjusted. Custom-fitted hearing aids will be designed just for you utilizing molds of your ears. Once the right fit is attained, it will be necessary 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 a variety of environments without interference. In order to be certain you get the best hearing aids for your individual 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 to allow your brain time to adjust to louder sounds.

If you believe you may be suffering from an out of tune hearing aid, contact us today and schedule an appointment to have 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.