All About Hearing Aids: Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Hearing aids offer more than just improved sound—they can also boost your overall quality of life. By helping you understand speech more clearly, they allow you to stay social and enjoy family get-togethers or outings with friends. Research shows that untreated hearing loss may lead to health problems like depression, anxiety, and even a higher risk of cognitive decline. Using hearing aids can help you stay connected and protect your mental well-being.

They often do. Many people achieve some tinnitus relief with hearing aids, while some find substantial relief. Because tinnitus is often linked to hearing loss, if your ears are ringing, it’s smart to get a hearing test to see if hearing aids can make a difference.

A high-pitched squeal or whistle, known as feedback, can occur for several reasons. While feedback was a common issue with older hearing aids, today's digital technology includes advanced feedback management systems that significantly reduce or eliminate unwanted whistling in most situations.

• Contact: A brief squeal may occur if your hearing aid is not placed in the ear canal fully, or if covered or touched by an object, such as a phone, hat, scarf, or your hand. This typically stops once the obstruction is removed.
• Volume:Today's hearing aids can be fit appropriately in a variety of ways to different ear sizes and degrees of hearing loss to prevent the chance of feedback when properly inserted. Still, in some cases, excessive volume increases to a hearing aid can contribute to feedback. If you frequently need higher volume levels, your hearing aids may benefit from adjustment or reprogramming.
• Fit: Hearing aids work best when they fit securely in the ear. If a device becomes loose or shifts out of position, or a patient loses or gains weight, sound may escape and create feedback. Reinserting the device or having the fit evaluated can often resolve the issue.
• Wax: Excessive earwax can block the ear canal and cause sound to reflect back toward the hearing aid microphone, resulting in feedback.

If feedback becomes frequent or persistent, our team can evaluate your hearing aids and make any necessary adjustments to optimize performance.

Yes. Hearing aids can be adjusted in a variety of ways, including both the physical fit of the device and its sound settings. Fine-tuning is a normal part of the hearing rehabilitation process, as listening needs, hearing levels, and personal preferences can change over time.

During the initial trial period after the purchase of hearing aids, adjustments may include changes to programming, fit, technology level, style, or even manufacturer to ensure the best possible treatment outcome. Long-term success with hearing aids often requires ongoing counseling, follow-up care, and periodic sound and fit modifications. Developing a lasting relationship with your hearing healthcare provider is an important part of achieving optimal hearing, communication, and quality of life.

Research is ongoing, but some studies suggest that improved hearing may contribute to better balance and spatial awareness in individuals with hearing loss. By providing access to important environmental sounds—such as footsteps, approaching vehicles, and other auditory cues—hearing aids may help the brain better localize sound and maintain awareness of one's surroundings. Some studies have also found improved performance on certain balance tests when hearing aids were worn, which may have implications for fall risk and overall safety.

Like all electronic devices, hearing aids can occasionally experience performance issues. Common concerns include clogged microphone covers (sound input), wax blockage in speakers or filters (sound output), reduced battery performance in rechargeable hearing aids caused by debris on charging contacts, poor-quality disposable batteries for non-rechargeable hearing aids, and moisture exposure.

Many of these issues can be prevented or identified early through routine maintenance and ongoing follow-up care. Regular hearing aid checkups allow your hearing healthcare provider to monitor device performance, address minor concerns before they develop into major repairs, and ensure your hearing aids continue to provide optimal benefit. When more extensive service is needed, our team can help coordinate the appropriate repair or replacement options.

Most hearing aid brands and styles now offer direct Bluetooth capabilities, allowing devices to connect with smartphones, tablets, televisions, and other compatible technology. Depending on the model, Bluetooth features may support phone calls, audio streaming, app-based adjustments, and improved access to communication in everyday listening environments.

Many modern hearing aids are designed to withstand moisture and dust exposure. While no hearing aid is completely waterproof, some brands and styles carry an IP68 rating, the highest standard for dust and water resistance currently available in hearing technology. These devices are completely dust-proof and designed to withstand sweat, rain, accidental splashes, and even brief submersion in fresh water.

Advanced moisture protection may include parylene-coated internal components and hydrophobic external coatings on external surfaces. Under laboratory testing conditions, IP68-rated hearing aids can typically withstand immersion in up to 1 meter (approximately 3.3 feet) of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Even with these protections, routine cleaning and drying remain important to maximize device performance and longevity.

Daily at-home cleaning, using the techniques recommended by your hearing healthcare provider, can help prevent many common performance issues. Hearing aid care should be individualized, as cleaning and maintenance needs vary based on your hearing technology, lifestyle, and physiology. Factors such as hearing aid style, exposure to dust or moisture, earwax production, and skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis can all influence the care regimen that is most appropriate for you.

Proper storage is equally important for protecting your investment. When not in use, hearing aids should be stored in their charging case (for rechargeable models) or a protective storage case (for disposable battery models) to help safeguard them from dust, debris, humidity, and curious pets. Consistent maintenance and storage practices can help maximize both device performance and longevity.

Many hearing aids are now rechargeable and do not require disposable batteries. For rechargeable devices, keeping both the hearing aid charging contacts and charger contacts clean can help ensure proper communication between the devices and reliable charging performance.

If your hearing aids use disposable batteries, always check the expiration date and use older batteries first. Because hearing aid batteries are zinc-air, allowing the battery to sit for approximately five minutes after removing the tab may help maximize battery life. When not using your hearing aids for extended periods, remove the batteries and store both the devices and batteries in a cool, dry location. Avoid storing batteries in the freezer, as this can reduce their performance.

Instead of throwing them away, think about donating them to a charitable group like Lions Club International or the Starkey Hearing Foundation. These organizations refurbish used hearing aids and give them to people who can’t afford new ones. You’ll help someone in need, and you might even qualify for a tax break.