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.

Everybody’s hearing loss condition is unique and hearing aids are manufactured to compensate for those individual conditions. Whether you are new to using hearing aids or have been using them for years, if your hearing aids give you headaches or any other kind of pain, there is an answer.

A correctly adjusted hearing aid will fit comfortably in your ear and give you the quality of amplification that meets your individual requirements. If this is not the case, you should make sure you have the correct type of hearing aid and that it’s been precisely adjusted.

Signs your hearing aid needs to be adjusted

If your hearing aids are not properly fitted, they can lead to headaches. Typical, poor adjustment or improper use is the reason. If this is the case, the following issues might arise:

Feedback noise. Wind and other background sound can be picked up and boosted by your hearing aid, also generating screeching annoying feedback.
Insufficient sound quality. Hearing aids that aren’t adjusted well can amplify high-intensity sounds, generating a loud screeching noise that is aggravating and causes damage to your ears. Hearing aids in this condition can also make quieter sounds inaudible.
Headaches and tinnitus. Loud noises that are further amplified can also trigger headaches and even tinnitus. Normally, this means the settings are too loud.

Over-the-counter hearing aids

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

Hearing loss is distinct to every person so simply amplifying all sounds won’t be enough to help your hearing. There are many cases of hearing loss where individuals lose the ability to hear a specific frequency. In order for a hearing aid to allow people to hear clearly in different environments, they will need accurate adjustment.

Professional hearing aid adjustment

Having your hearing aid professionally adjusted is the best way to make sure your device is fitted properly. Custom-fitted hearing aids will be designed just for you using molds of your ears. Once the proper fit is attained, we will need to adjust the hearing aid settings so you can distinguish between unwanted noise and the sounds you want to hear.

You should also be capable of hearing sound in lots of different environments with automated adjustments made by your hearing aids. This might require a few visits to ensure you get the hearing aid that’s best for you and in tune with your lifestyle. And with significant hearing loss, your brain will need to get used to hearing again in stages, so your hearing aid will have to be programmed in stages.

Give us a call for an appointment if you think your hearing aid might need a tune-up.