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Overcoming the Plugged-Ear Feeling From Hearing Aids

Posted on by Hampton Roads ENT ~ Allergy

Have you ever covered your ears with your fingers and found that your voice sounds echoey or amplified? For people new to hearing aids, this plugged-up feeling and amplified noise can become a common occurrence. Let’s look at why this phenomenon occurs and what you can do to manage it.

How Do Hearing Aids Cause This Plugged-Ear Sensation?

Audiologist positioning a man's hearing aid.

The plugged-ear effect, also called hearing aid occlusion, refers to the sensation that everyday sounds, like speaking, chewing or swallowing, seem exaggerated or distorted when wearing hearing aids. This effect happens when the hearing aids or other in-ear devices completely seal off your ear canals.

Normally, sound vibrations produced by activities like chewing can escape through the open ear canal. But when the canal is blocked, the sound is trapped and bounces back, leading to amplification.

How to Minimize the Plugged-Ear Feeling

The plugged-ear feeling shouldn’t prevent you from enjoying the clear communication your hearing aids offer. Take a look at four leading causes of the plugged-ear effect and how to manage them:

  1. Earwax. Wax buildup in your hearing aids can block your ears or device microphones. Regularly cleaning your devices is essential to ensure sound flows clearly. Use a wax removal kit to clean your hearing aids nightly.
  2. Amplification. Sometimes, the problem lies in the sound settings. If the amplification on your hearing aids is too high, the sound can reverberate in your ears and cause a plugged-ear feeling. Adjusting the amplification through your smartphone app or with the help of your audiologist may help reduce the effect.
  3. Fit or placement. Hearing aids that are too large or improperly placed in the ear can create a seal around the canal, leading to the plugged effect.If your hearing aids feel uncomfortable or seem positioned incorrectly, it’s time to check in with your audiologist for a fitting adjustment.

If you’re one of the 15% of U.S. adults with hearing loss, don’t let hearing aid discomfort stop you from enjoying the communication benefits of your devices. Contact Hampton Roads ENT ~ Allergy to address your device issues with one of our hearing aid specialists.