Hearing aids bring a multitude of benefits to your life, reconnecting you to the world of sound and communication. However, sometimes hearing aids can make you feel like your ears are plugged up, which can be mildly uncomfortable. Noise around you can sound hollow or tinny, and the sound of your own voice, chewing and swallowing can become distorted or echoey. This effect is called the occlusion effect. Let’s discuss some ways you can minimize it.
Why Does the Occlusion Effect Occur?
The occlusion effect can occur when anything obstructs your ear canal, such as hearing aids, in-ear headphones, earplugs, or any other foreign object. Some medical conditions can even cause the occlusion effect. Under normal conditions, when you speak or generate a sound inside your body (like chewing), the sound waves exit the ear through the ear canal. The presence of your hearing aids or other obstruction causes the sound wave to get trapped in the ear canal and bounce back into your ears.
How Can I Ease the Occlusion Effect?
The occlusion effect doesn’t have to be a permanent part of your hearing aid experience. Here are some practical ways to ease the occlusion effect.
- Regular hearing aid maintenance. Clean your hearing aids every day, being especially mindful of earwax buildup. Earwax buildup around the hearing aid can further seal off the ear canal, exacerbating the effect.
- Check the ventilation. Hearing aids are designed to allow for air circulation in and out of the air canal. However, if these vents are improperly sized, blocked or damaged, it can cause the occlusion effect. Consult with your audiologist to ensure your vents are appropriately sized and are not blocked.
- Proper fitting. Try removing your hearing aids and reinserting them. You want to ensure they fit properly and were put in correctly. Remember, your ears change shape over time; if you’ve had these hearing aids for a few years, it may be time to reevaluate their fit in your ears.
- Adjust amplification settings. Check the amplification settings; they may be too high. The occlusion effect is especially prominent in lower pitches, so pay particular attention to how low pitches are amplified.
- Open domes or ear canal inserts. Customizing your hearing aids or using accessories have been known to help people with the occlusion effect. Open domes don’t form a complete seal in the ear canal, allowing sound waves to pass through. Ear canal inserts are designed to minimize the occlusion effect. Talk to your audiologist about solutions like these.
Approximately 28.8 million Americans could benefit from hearing aids, but fewer than 30% of them have ever used hearing aids. Don’t let the feeling of plugged ears keep you from getting the hearing help you need and enjoying the benefits hearing aids bring to your life. Contact Torrance Audiology today to discuss ways to mediate the occlusion effect and hear better than ever.
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