A well-fitted hearing aid is fundamental for both long-term comfort and optimal auditory performance. A proper fit maximizes the sound quality you receive by ensuring amplified sound is efficiently directed into your ear canal. It also plays a significant role in preventing acoustic feedback—the high-pitched whistling sound that occurs when sound leaks out and is re-amplified. Ensuring a secure and comfortable fit is the primary step toward consistently wearing and fully benefiting from your device.
Identifying Specific Fit Problems
A poor fit often announces itself through distinct physical and auditory symptoms. Physical discomfort, such as tenderness, soreness, or pressure in the ear canal or outer ear, may indicate that the device or earmold is too large or is rubbing against sensitive tissue. You should not have to tolerate pain while wearing your hearing aid.
A lack of retention is another clear sign, manifesting as the device frequently slipping out of place, especially during jaw movement or physical activity. If the hearing aid does not stay securely seated, it cannot maintain the necessary acoustic seal. The most common auditory indicator of a fit problem is acoustic feedback—a whistling or squealing noise that occurs when amplified sound escapes and is picked up by the microphone. Finally, a poor fit can lead to muffled, inconsistent sound, as the receiver is not positioned correctly to deliver sound effectively.
Immediate User Adjustments
Before seeking professional help, you can perform several simple checks to address minor fit issues at home. Always begin by reinserting the device, ensuring it is properly seated deep enough into the ear canal at the correct angle, which often resolves immediate feedback or looseness. For Behind-The-Ear (BTE) or Receiver-In-Canal (RIC) styles, check that the thin tubing or wire is not twisted, crimped, or pulled taut, which can unseat the dome or earmold.
If the device uses a small, flexible silicone tip, called a dome, you may need to try a different size or style. Domes are available in various configurations, such as open, closed, or power (double). A slightly larger or different style can greatly improve the seal and retention; for example, a closed dome creates a tighter seal effective for reducing feedback. Temporarily lowering the volume can sometimes stop feedback that results from a minor seal compromise until you can make a permanent adjustment.
Maintaining Hearing Aid Components
Routine maintenance is a practical step that directly impacts the quality of your fit. Earwax, or cerumen, is a common culprit in fit problems because the hearing aid can block the ear’s natural self-cleaning mechanism, leading to buildup. This excess wax can accumulate on the dome or earmold, changing its shape and preventing it from seating fully, which causes slippage and sound leakage.
Cleaning the surface of the hearing aid shell or earmold daily with a soft cloth or brush helps maintain its intended shape. Regularly replacing disposable wax guards or filters is necessary to prevent blockages that can mimic sound issues related to poor fit. Moisture from sweat or humidity can also compromise the fit by making the device slick, so using a dedicated drying kit or dehumidifier nightly helps maintain retention and component integrity.
When to Consult a Specialist
If your self-adjustments and routine cleaning do not resolve the issue, professional intervention is necessary. Persistent pain, skin irritation, or discharge from the ear canal requires an appointment, as it may indicate an infection or a shell rubbing too aggressively against the skin. A specialist can pinpoint exactly where the device is causing irritation and make precise modifications to the shell material.
The shape and size of the ear canal can change over time due to factors like weight fluctuation or natural aging, causing a once-perfectly fitted device to become loose. In this case, you may need a new impression taken to create a new, custom-molded earmold or shell for your device. If acoustic feedback persists despite volume adjustments and component changes, an audiologist can make programming adjustments to the device’s feedback suppression system, which is a setting the user cannot access.