You’re having a Zoom call with your granddaughter and you’ve been waiting for it all week! You’ll be able to get caught up, check-in, and, laugh.
But when you get online you realize, to your horror and disappointment, that you can’t hear very well. Your hearing aids are in, but everything seems muffled.
You can’t believe how discouraged you are.
Modern marvels muffled
Modern hearing aids are celebrated for their ability to provide crystal clear sounds. So when that doesn’t occur, that can be really discouraging. Hearing aids are designed to help you hear better, right? But, lately, every time you’ve used your hearing aids, everything has sounded muffled and distorted (and that’s definitely not an improvement over your regular hearing). The issue may not be the hearing aid at all.
Why do my hearing aids sound muffled?
So why do voices sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher if your hearing aids are working correctly? Well, there are a few things you can do to fix the issue.
Earwax
If I had a dime for every issue that earwax has caused (in general, not me personally), I’d be a rich (but still cranky) man. The problem with your hearing aid may be a build-up of earwax against the microphone. The earwax impedes your hearing aid’s ability to pick up sound and, as a result, the amplification is muffled.
Here are some indications that earwax could be the issue.:
- Doing a visual check. In other words, have a good look at the device before you put it in your ear. If you see earwax, try to remove it.
- Turning the hearing aid on. If the start-up songs and dings all sound normal, but speech is later muffled, the problem is probably with the microphone and not the speaker (and wax is the most likely culprit).
Alternatively, it’s possible that earwax in your ear rather than on the hearing aid is the issue here. Be sure, in those instances, you safely clean out your ears (cotton swabs are not recommended). The troubleshooting will need to continue if the muffled sound remains even after you’ve cleaned your ears and your hearing aid.
Infection
So, if earwax isn’t the issue, the next likely culprit will be an infection. This could be a common ear infection. Or it may be an inner ear infection. Both are worth making an appointment for an evaluation.
Ear infections of various kinds and causes can generate inflammation in your ear canal or middle ear. Your hearing will then sound muffled as this swelling blocks the transmission of sound. Management may include some antibiotics. Once the infection has cleared, your hearing will usually go back to normal.
Batteries
You just need to change your battery. Hearing aids can sound muffled when the batteries are drained so make sure you check for that. This is true even if your batteries are rechargeable. Sometimes, switching out the batteries with new ones can make your hearing aids sound crystal clear again.
Hearing loss
It could also be feasible that your hearing loss has changed and your hearing aids need to be adjusted to compensate for that. If you haven’t had your hearing tested in the last year or so, think about making an appointment. While you’re here having your hearing aid reprogrammed we can also do an inspection and cleaning.
Don’t let it linger
If you try all this troubleshooting and your hearing is still muffled, it’s certainly worth taking some time to come in for a consultation. You may find yourself leaving your hearing aids in a drawer and turning your TV up again if you don’t solve this muffling problem. Your hearing may then start to sustain additional damage.
Letting it linger is not a smart idea. Make an appointment with us so you can get back to hearing before that big family get-together. If you can actually hear what everyone is saying you’ll you’ll have a lot more fun.