by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
A wife wrote:
My husband believes that wearing his hearing aids will over the long run increase his hearing loss. I’d appreciate if you could direct me to any information that would address his concern.
That’s a question that a number of people have concerns with. Anything is possible, of course, but the short answer is that typically no, hearing aids won’t damage your hearing. However, if you have a severe or worse loss, there is another side to the story, so keep reading.
Loud sounds damage our ears (either instantly or eventually). That is not open to question. The currently accepted level is that sounds less than 80 dB will not harm your hearing, no matter how long you listen to them.
After that, the louder the sound, and the longer you listen to it, the greater the chances of hearing loss.
Normal human speech lies in the range of 50 to 60 dB. However, when you have a significant hearing loss, you can’t hear at that level any more so you need amplification.
The problem with the older linear analog hearing aids was that they amplified all sounds together. Thus, the softer parts of speech were amplified so you could hear them, but at the same time the louder parts of speech were also amplified and thus became too loud.
Modern digital hearing aids are able to amplify softer sounds, while at the same time, not amplifying so much, or at all, the louder parts of speech so they don’t become loud enough to damage your ears. That’s the theory.
However, in practice, the worse your hearing gets, the louder you need sound in order to hear it comfortably—and that could mean listening to speech at ear-damaging levels.
This is my situation. I have a choice, either hear (and understand) speech and eventually lose more hearing, or not hear and preserve my remaining hearing.
I do both in such a way that I get the best of both worlds. Remember, the longer and louder the sound, the more damaging it is. Thus in order to preserve hearing you can either limit the time you are listening to loud sounds, or you can turn down the volume.
The way I do it is, when I am around people and need to chat with them, I wear my hearing aids at the volume I need in order to hear and understand them. Then, I take my hearing aids off and give my ears a rest. Thus, they are not exposed to loud sounds continuously.
My MCL (most comfortable level) is around 80-85 dB under ideal situations. However, in real life, there are few ideal listening situations so I need more volume.
The trick is to be prudent in wearing your hearing aids. If you are in noisy places, turn them down or take them off and wear ear protectors instead. But in quiet situations, your hearing aids aren’t putting out much volume so there is little chance they will damage your ears, no matter how long you wear them.
Personally, I wear my hearing aids when I want to talk to people and the rest of the time I leave them off and rest my ears. But, then, I enjoy the silence. I don’t have a compulsive need to hear every environmental sound around me. You do what works for you.
BJ says
I had incorrect programmed digital hearing aids damage my hearing. If your hearing aids are properly programmed, you can safely adjust them without causing damage. If your aids seem too loud or uncomfortable, have them adjusted immediately. The audiologist tried to convince me I just was not use to “new sounds” and I ended up with far more damage than I started with.
R. L. Clements says
I am convinced I was fitted too soon with improperly adjusted hearing aids and now have permanent damage. I routinely find myself turning my aids to the lowest level or in some cases literally yanking them from my ears. Frequently, after several hours of use I will begin to experience pain in both ears. Interestingly, when I attempted to return them during the trial period, the audiologist refused to accept them saying I had not allowed adequate time to adjust. A second opinion at a well known and respected medical school showed that in my left ear I had very mild hearing loss and in my right ear mild loss marginally trending toward moderate.
My experience has made me extremely skeptical of “commercial” hearing clinics and I will now see only hospital affiliated audiologists. I have, in fact, not ruled out a suit against the original provider. The pain I endure almost daily has become almost untenable.
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi RL:
Since you only have a mild loss, you don’t need much amplification. It is possible you were not fit properly.
Is the pain you experience from wearing your aids for several hours a physical pain from the hearing aids in your ears (whether they were turned on or not), or a pain as the result of sounds being too loud? These are two entirely different kinds of things. (I’ve experienced both.) Sometimes I have to take my aids off because the physical pain becomes too much. Other times, like you, I rip them off when sounds get too loud and the hearing aids don’t compress those sounds enough.
In almost all states it is the law that you can return your hearing aids within typically 30 days for any reason. Unfortunately, it can take 90 days for your ears to adjust to new hearing aids, and if you have to decide whether to return them or not within the return period of 30 days, it would be true that you haven’t given your brain enough time to adjust–but by then you know whether things are getting better or not. If your state has such a law, make a complaint and get your money back.
Do you have this pain whether you wear your hearing aids or not? I’m wondering if the hearing aids were set too loud and you now have hyperacusis. It almost sounds like it. If so, you have to be very careful to protect your ears from louder sounds until you get things back under control.
Cordially,
Neil
Nicole gonzales says
Does or can wind cause damage to the hearing aid.
Dr. Neil says
Hi Nichole:
Are you referring to wind damaging the microphone by blowing too hard into the microphone ports? If so, I’ve not heard of wind causing damage to the hearing aid. But wind noise can sure be bothersome to the wearer. I often have to take my aids off on windy days to avoid the wind noise.
Regards
Neil
Brad Ingrao, AuD says
I agree with Dr. Bauman (as usual) but will add a couple of comments.
Wind noise tends to be in the low frequency range of human hearing and hearing aid response. As such the risk of damage to your hearing is very low.
It is, however, bothersome and can interfere with understanding speech.
Because of this, most manufacturers have invested significant time and effort in developing algorithms to attempt to reduce wind noise. These usually involve some analysis to determine that the sound is wind (steady) vs. speech (highly variable), and then reducing gain (amplification).
Speak with your the person who fitted them and discuss what technology they have to dealing with noise as well as other strategies for managing it.
On the physical damage side of things, wind in and of itself isn’t a threat, but the dust and particles carried by it can be. Nearly all hearing aids now use “nano-coating” to protect the microphones and switches so this is not usually much of a risk.
Depending on where you live, wind can also carry moisture, so it’s a good practice to use a good hearing aid desiccant system every night.
Finally, be fastidious about cleaning the microphone and speaker ports of your hearing aids daily and you’ll take care of any residue the wind may deposit in your hearing aids.
Kent says
How do you tell what db level your hearing aids are set for? There does not appear to be any screen or markings that indicate the level. I have ordered but not received my digital, iPhone compatible hearing aids yet. My son says I should not wear them for fear of causing further hearing loss – my wife can’t wait for me to get them. I feel like I hear most people well, but my wife’s voice pitch seems to be one that I don’t hear so well (true statement). Any thoughts?
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Kent:
You won’t hurt your ears if you keep the volume to what you can hear comfortably.
Cordially,
Neil
Brad Ingrao, AuD says
Hi Kent,
My two cents as an audiologist fitting hearing aids for over 25 years (all the way back to the screwdriver days).
The goals of hearing aids are to:
a) Make soft speech audible (loud enough to hear)
b) Make average speech comfortable
c) Make loud speech and other sounds comfortable
In order to do this, the standard of audiology care indicates that we not only make mathematical guesses based on your hearing loss (the audiogram), but that we actually MEASURE the output of the hearing aids in your ear.
We do this by plugging your audiogram and the acoustic properties of your hearing aids into one of two very well-researched algorithms (DSL-i/o 5 or NAL-NL2) to generate a set of “target curves.”
a) Soft Speech at 1 meter (50 to 55 dB)
b) Average Speech at 1 meter (60 to 65 dB)
c) Loud Speech at 1 meter (80 dB
d) Maximum output (90 dB input)
These measurements are made by inserting a thin silicone “probe tube” into the ear canal, then placing your hearing aids in place (without displacing the tube).
We then present carefully-calibrated recorded speech, or speech-like digital noise at those levels and adjust the hearing aid software until the output across the 10 to 20 frequency channels (depending on your particular hearing aid) is very close to, without exceeding, those target curves.
This careful process makes it VERY difficult for sounds to ever be amplified to a level that will harm hearing.
The other reason why hearing aids harming hearing is unlikely has to do with the rhythm of speech. For every sound, there are at least as many gaps of silence. Damage risk includes the SUM TOTAL of sound over time.
So if the hearing aids create loud sound (that’s their purpose) over a 16 hour day, the very nature of speech is such that at least half of that time will be silence, so the cumulative “dose” of sound will be safe. In addition, they will only produce as much sound as you need for that given input, which will change in a few milliseconds.
Bottom line, listen to your wife and wear your hearing aids, but make sure they are fitted according to contemporary professional standards.
Matthew Pearson says
All sound advice.
Rather than other parts of the brain assisting your hearing using the aid will support normal cognitive function. Typical age related loss makes female voices harder to hear than male voices so to support marital harmony I would suggest using the aids. The best quote I have heard re hearing aids was from Starkey which was that hearing aids are like ice skates. You need a good trainer and lots of practice. Your voice will sound odd to you yo start with but stick with it all my successful patients seem to wear their aids all day.
Matthew Pearson RHAD MSHHA
David Green says
I am beginning to experience hearing loss but the cost of tests and hearing aids is off-putting. What is the most cost-effective way of addressing my hearing loss?
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi David:
I can certainly tell you how you can do this in the USA, but it looks like you are in New Zealand and I don’t have a clue what your system is like there. So I can’t give you any specifics.
Cordially,
Neil
Niroj Maharjan says
After wearing hearing aids for a few weeks, some people express concern that they can’t hear as well without their devices as they could before they ever started using them.
what might be the reason…
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Niroj:
I think you’ll find this is a perception that they can’t hear as well, but it is not true in fact. Just to show you. If I don’t put my hearing aids on in the morning, I think I hear normally for me (which isn’t very much to be sure). But everything sounds the way it should to me. Now if I wear my hearing aids for a time I hear a new normal with my aids and my brain quickly accepts this as the new normal.
However, if I take my hearing aids off, I’m back to my old normal, but everything sounds so much more quiet that I’d swear that my ears are not working as well as they were before I put my hearing aids on. This is only my perception of the sounds. In reality, I’m hearing just like I did before wearing my hearing aids but the contrast between the new normal and the old normal is so great it seems that I’ve lost more hearing.
If a person is really concerned that their hearing aids are truly damaging their hearing, they can go back and get another audiogram made and that will show whether it is true or not when compared to a previous audiogram taken before they started wearing the hearing aids.
Cordially,
Neil
Elaine says
I had new hearing aids 3 months ago. I don’t hear as well as I did before without them and its not a perception as my husband has remarked how much worse it is I never had trouble hearing shop assistants. I do now and I need the tv volume higher than previously.
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Elaine:
If you have to turn the volume up more in order to hear, then I don’t think the hearing aids are damaging your ears. I’d look for something else. The first thing I’d check is whether any drugs or medications you are taking might be the culprit. Have you recently begun a new drug or increased the dose on an existing one in the past 6 months? If so, that one may be the culprit. If you need help, email me a list of the drugs you are taking and I’ll help you.
Cordially,
Neil
Daphne says
I got my first hearing aids in December 2015. Still getting used to them. My problem is that after wearing them a couple of hours I get earache in both ears. I have tried different sized domes and molds and no matter which ones I wear I still get earache and even after I have them out for a couple of hours my ears hurt. Any suggestions?
Brad Ingrao, AuD says
Hi Daphne,
Since you mention Domes, I’m going to assume you’re wearing Receiver In the Canal (RIC) style hearing aids. If the speaker wire is just a hair too short, this can create additional tension on the top wall of your ear canal, which may be causing your issue.
This would be the case with either a mold or a dome.
Have your audiologist or dispenser re-measure the wire and try one size longer.
Nancy says
My son is just 6 years old. He can’t pass the school’s hearing test. I brought him to hospital, after a hearing test, CT scan a series check, Dr’s conclusion is congenital bilateral ear anomaly with impairment of hearing, his hearing test ‘s range is between 20-30, it is really under the normal range, but didn’t loss too much, the doctor suggested him wear hearing aid, I really concern the hearing aid will impair his hearing ability, we can commute with regular voice, even lower voice, he can hear. but just when he speaks he misses some plosive sound, do you think does he need hearing aid?
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Nancy:
Don’t let the seemingly small amount of hearing loss fool you. It is very significant. In fact, any loss greater than 15 dB will make a significant difference in his schooling. They have even shown that his IQ will be affected by the degree of hearing loss he now has.
I’d suggest he wears two hearing aids, at least when he is in the classroom and other places where he needs to hear people talking.
Furthermore, when hearing loss is so great that it affects a person’s speech, that is a strong indication he needs hearing aids.
Another thing to consider is that background noise affects how well he hears and understands. As the noise level rises, he will have more and more difficulty understanding speech. In quiet and when you are close to him, he can hear you even if you are talking in a low voice, but I’ll bet he is still missing things. Hearing aids should help him understand more than he does now.
You don’t have to worry about hearing aids damaging his hearing if they are properly fitted.
Cordially,
Neil
nancy shi says
Hi, Neil
Thank you so much for your reply, your suggestion is very valuable, just right your said, his understanding is really not good, sometimes I confuse he should understand, but he doesn’t. I find reason finally, thank you so much! I have another question, from his CT scan, there is full of tissue around his nose, these tissue block his nose and ear, do you think these tissue caused his hearing loss? I still don’t feel like believing his ear problem can’t be fixed, his doctor said, the bones in ear inner part which responsible for balance are abnormal, it caused his balance is not good and hearing loss. His balance is really not good, but now his balance is much better than before, and he never has carsickness and boat-sickness, so I think his balance bone isn’t too bad to cause hearing loss, I still hope the tissue caused his hearing loss and after remove the tissue he can recover his hearing. (he has be placed tube in his middle ear, his middle ear had fluid before surgery. After surgery,his hearing test is still same as before. )
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Nancy:
I’m having trouble understanding what you are describing about your son. If you are saying that his cochlea and vestibular (balance) part of the inner ear is malformed, then that is permanent. It is caused by genetic. Did the doctor mention anything such as the Mondini malformation? or superior canal dehiscence? These are inner ear problems.
The tube is for fluid in the middle ear. It can cause temporary hearing loss while the ears are congested. When the fluid drains out, his hearing should return if this is his problem.
Of course, he could have two or more problems affecting his hearing at the same time.
Cordially,
Neil
nancy shi says
Hi, Neil
My son has checked his hearing many times since he was born. After he was born in 3 days, he has passed the test, and when he was 2 years old, the doctor check his ears were full of wax, and nurse washed his ear, my son cried very hard for almost half an hour, and I decided to give up washing his ear. Until now, I still regret to agree nurse to wash his ears. Meanwhile, he is easy to get nose infection, once he catches cold, he will have green and yellow snot for long time. When he was in Kindergarten, he didn’t pass the hearing test in school. I brought him to hospital to see the doctor, doctor checked his middle ears existing fluid, so placed tubes in his both ears to drains out the fluid. After this surgery, he took a hearing test again, and found his hearing test figure was almost same as before surgery. Then the doctor recommend my son to take CT scan. From CT scan, they found the tissue surrounded his nose, block the ear, but also found vestibular part is abnormal, so the doctor’s conclusion is his problem can’t be fixed, he need hearing aid. But I asked if the tissue block his ear caused his hearing loss, the doctor reply no. But I still keep my opinion, It is hard to accept his ear problem is permanent. I don’t know if I describe clearly or not. I would like to look for the other ear specialist to diagnose.
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Nancy:
It’s a good idea to get a second opinion from another ear specialist.
If the second doctor says much the same as the first doctor, then you need to believe them–that your son’s hearing loss is permanent and get him appropriately fitted hearing aids.
And you should also build up his immune system so he doesn’t get some many colds and ear infections, etc.
Cordially,
Neil
Nancy says
Hi, Neil
Thank you so much for your responses, you give me such more professional suggestions, I’m very grateful to you.
Jola says
I have had my hearing aids for just a few months when I noticed worsening of my hearing. I could not hear the door bell or alarm clock anymore. I Went back to my audiologist and he established that since my
last hearing check up I lost additional 20 decibels of my hearing. So, yes I’m sure hearing aids were the cause of my additional 20 decibels hearing loss. They were not set to loud but I did have some feedback noises and for months Oticon tried to fix it. But wen they finely did, it was to late and now from moderate hearing loss I went to severe hearing loss in just the few months. 😳😞
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Jola:
How do you know that it was the hearing aids that caused this additional loss and not other factors? I’m not saying it wasn’t the hearing aids, but from what you say, it doesn’t seem likely.
Perhaps what caused your original hearing loss is progressing and causing more hearing loss in spite of your hearing aids. It could be that if you are on any medications that one is ototoxic and causing your increasing hearing loss. It could be due to aging (assuming you are older). It could have been from having something as simple as having a cold and the cold virus got into your inner ear and caused the hearing loss. Etc., etc.
You have to rule out these and other factors before you can categorically state that your hearing aids caused your hearing loss.
Cordially,
Neil
Rustee says
I have to agree with Jola..for a number of years I have struggled with hearing aids..I do believe they have worsened my hearing..I have had further audiology tests and this is confirmed..my father also found that shortly after having hearing aids his hearing decreased rapidly 🙁
Tammi says
I too believe hearing aids cause more hearing loss but everyone is telling me this is not possible…and it’s my brain readjusting..gave had them for about a year now and yes they help but I find after a while the mould is bugging me a lot and it starts paining me then I take them out and cannot hear
I do not know what to do…audiologist suggesting even stronger one
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Tammi:
It’s not supposed to be possible for hearing aids to hurt your ears, and that would be true if they are fitted properly, but knowing the many aids are not fitted properly, it’s always a possibility, even if just a slight one.
I sure know what pain ear molds can cause. I always had pain with my custom fit molds even though I used hypoallergenic materials. They would stick to my skin and cause pain.
My last hearing aids are receiver in the ear and use domes–and for the first time in over 50 years, they don’t cause pain.
What kind of hearing aid ear molds do you have?
Cordially,
Neil
David Hoare says
I very much liked reading all your comments.
I have worn hearing aids for 20 years now and the latest get better by the day. Is it better to wear hearing aids for a short day. Say 8.00 a.m to 10. p.m? I have just had my 6th monthly hearing test and my hearing has not changed for a year now
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi David:
I’d say that wearing your hearing aids from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM is a long day, not a short day. If you are comfortable wearing them from the time to get up to the time you go to bed, go for it. However, if your hearing aids begin to “bug” you and you find it is a relief to take them off, then do so when you feel the need to do so.
Basically, you should wear your hearing aids all your waking hours if they help you and do not cause you stress or other problems. Otherwise, wear them as long as is prudent and give your ears a rest the rest of the time. This varies so much from person to person. For me, its always a relief to take my hearing aids off after a few hours.
Cordially,
Neil
Bess says
I am a new to hearing aides. Went kicking and screaming! My family has been encouraging me to get them for years. It took my 6 yo grandson who was born with multiple physical challenges (hearing not one of those) to say to me, “it’s ok, you will get used to it for all your life”
This blog has been extremely helpful for my adjustment. I will stay tuned in. Thanks!
Terry Lewis says
ski slope loss
65db to 100db loss
125hz 1khz
80db at 3khz
100db at 8khz
with this loss and 95 -120 db mpo of the aids , how can I not loose more hearing
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Terry:
First off, just because your aids can put out 120 dB doesn’t mean that they are set at that level. They should be set to produce the power you need at each frequency to match your hearing loss. Your aids apparently have lots of reserve if your hearing should get worse. But they should not be set at the maximum power now.
Second, you have a choice. Not wear aids and not hear, or wear hearing aids set at a level you can hear and possibly slowly damage your hearing as time goes on–but at least you are hearing and are able to converse with people in the meantime. I’d opt for the latter choice–and indeed that is what I have done.
However, you are not in situations where the sound level is that loud all the time. Much of the time it may be a lot softer–and not be ear damaging at all. And if I am in noisy situations, I just take my hearing aids off (or I could turn them down or turn them off and let them act as ear plugs).
Cordially,
Neil
Rachel says
Would wearing hearing aids prevent further hearing loss?
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Rachel:
It depends what your hearing loss is due to. For example, if your hearing loss is from taking ototoxic drugs, then wearing hearing aids isn’t going to slow down the hearing loss. However, if you have a long-standing hearing loss, and do nothing to treat it, your hearing can deteriorate due to lack of use. In such cases, stimulating your ears by wearing hearing aids can help slow down that atrophy.
Cordially,
Neil
Caroline says
I was given a microphone for my left ear my right ear is 100% good now I was fitted with a microphone for my left ear so I can hear better now is that going to damage my right ear with all the noise traveling to that side
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Caroline:
I think what you are describing is a CROS hearing aid where the sounds from your deaf side and sent to your good ear where you hear them in addition to the sounds your good ear normally hears. Is this correct?
If so, these extra sounds won’t damage your good ear as long as they are about the same volume as you hear the normal sounds coming to your good ear. If the piped in sounds are louder, then you need to turn the volume down so they are about the same volume. Then you should be ok.
Cordially,
Neil
Dan seigel says
I use hearing aids but only when I need them for conversation. True my hearing Is worse aor a while after I take them out.
BTW TRY BOSE HEAR PHONES. THEY ARE CHEAP ($500) and 10 times better than any hearing aid I ever used!!
Newell says
“However, if you have a long-standing hearing loss, and do nothing to treat it, your hearing can deteriorate due to lack of use. In such cases, stimulating your ears by wearing hearing aids can help slow down that atrophy.”
Is this under the assumption that the person is sitting around with no aural simulation at all for much of the day? What if you simply have a radio playing the news station, so exercise your hearing muscles, so to speak? Is real conversation required for this or will hearing and processing all that’s needed as a means to this end?
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Newell:
Hearing stimulation is all that is really needed–so whether it is hearing aids, or assistive devices, or listening to the radio or TV or MP3 player, etc. doesn’t really make much difference. But if you have a significant hearing loss you won’t hear much if you just have the radio on in the background. You need it loud enough so that you can understand what they are saying so your brain has to process and interpret any speech so you can understand it for optimal results.
Since most people have a high-frequency hearing loss, you may hear the louder lower-frequency sounds, but not hear the higher-frequency softer sounds. Thus, only part of your auditory system is being stimulated. With hearing aids, they are adjusted so you hear those higher-frequency sounds too. Thus, wearing hearing aids would still be the best solution, unless you are wearing earbuds or headphones so your ears can capture the higher-frequency sounds.
Cordially,
Neil
Hannah says
Hi Dr Bauman,
My daughter has been diagnosed with moderate hearing loss (sensorineural). She can hear 60db in right ear and 70db in left. She will need hearing aids. Is this really necessary at 10 weeks old? Is there any chance her hearing can be restored naturally? Thank you, Hannah from UK
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Hannah:
Since your daughter has a sensorineural hearing loss, there is little chances of her getting her hearing restored by medical means at this point in time. Researchers are working on hair cell regeneration, but this is not ready for public consumption yet. It may well be a decade or more. Even then, who knows how well in might work.
Therefore, you have two options for amplification–either hearing aids or cochlear implants. I think her hearing is too good for cochlear implants, so you are left with the alternative of hearing aids (as has been recommended) or do nothing.
You don’t HAVE to fit her with hearing aids right now–you could wait a couple of years–but the longer you wait, the more her brain has to play catch-up. Ideally, you’ll choose to get her hearing aids sooner rather than later, but certainly do it by her second birthday for good results. You want to give her the best chances to develop normally and that includes hearing as close to normally as hearing aids allow.
Cordially,
Neil
Donald Hart says
Hello Neil,
TY for all your insight on this forum. I have a question. I have been wearing hearing aids for just over a year now. I have struggled to get the tune just right. However, not long after a updated adjustment mid-March… I soon realized that I could not understand the radio or TV. There was so much HF distortion it was terrible. I took my HA’s out and to my shock still had major distortion. Nothing sounds even close to normal. This went on for days…T did continue to wear my aids. I noticed I would have good days and bad days with the distortion. Most all sounds are off pitch now with and without my aids. I had a new audio test done and was thrilled to learn my hearing had not changed. I think my HA are causing my real hearing to be distorted. I’ve gone all day not wearing my HA’s then listened to my car radio and TV. The distortion is much better but it’s still there. All in the HF area where my loss it. If I wear my aids for a few hours….then take them out to test the distortion its back full blown. Does this make any sense to you? I;m truly concerned…and confused. TY, Donald
Neil Bauman, Ph.D. says
Hi Donald:
If you are used to normal hearing and lose much of your high-frequency hearing, then sounds appear to be distorted. Hearing aids can give you back some/much of this high frequency sound and thus reduce this distortion.
However, if hearing aids are not adjusted right for your particular ears, they can worsen the distortion for some kinds of sounds. For example, certain high-frequency sounds will be much too sharp and appear louder than they really are. Is this the kind of distortion you are talking about?
You also may have a lot of recruitment where sounds get too loud too fast, so amplification of certain sounds makes you hear them 2 or 3 or 5 times as loud as they should sound. Hearing aids not set right can really mess you up there. I know. I can’t never get hearing aids set to work well for me. There is always a compromise. So I don’t wear my hearing aids in certain situations because of this.
You need to go back and have your hearing aids adjusted again–and see whether that helps. If it does, then keep on adjusting them the same way until you get sounds as close to normal as possible. But don’t expect perfection as I mentioned above. Look for as much improvement as you can get.
Cordially,
Neil