Most hearing aids give you several ways to change the volume: a physical button or switch on the device itself, a smartphone app, or a standalone remote control. Which method you use depends on your hearing aid model, but the basic process is straightforward once you know where to look.
Physical Controls on the Hearing Aid
Many hearing aids have a small button, rocker switch, dial, or lever built into the housing. On behind-the-ear models, this control typically sits on the top or back of the casing. On in-the-ear styles, it’s usually a small button or dial on the faceplate that faces outward when the aid is in your ear.
The most common setup is a push button: press one direction (or one short press) to raise volume, and press the other direction (or a long press) to lower it. Some models use a tiny rocker switch you push up or down, while others have a scroll wheel you roll forward or backward with your fingertip. If you’re not sure which control your model has, check the quick-start card that came in the box. The button sequences vary by manufacturer, and a short press versus a long press can do very different things depending on your brand and model.
Using a Smartphone App
Most current hearing aids pair with a companion app on your phone over Bluetooth. The app typically shows a volume slider you can drag up or down, giving you finer control than a physical button allows. One useful feature in many apps is independent left and right adjustment, so you can raise the volume on one ear without changing the other. This is helpful in situations like a car ride where noise comes mainly from one side.
If you find yourself consistently setting one side much higher than the other, that’s worth mentioning at your next audiology appointment. A persistent imbalance can signal that the programming needs updating or that the fit on one side isn’t sealing properly.
To get started, download your manufacturer’s app from the App Store or Google Play, open it with your hearing aids powered on, and follow the pairing prompts. Once connected, the volume control is usually right on the home screen.
Standalone Remote Controls
If you’d rather not use a phone, many manufacturers sell a small dedicated remote control. These are typically about the size of a car key fob with three clearly labeled buttons: volume up, volume down, and program change. They’re a good option if you find the buttons on the hearing aid too small to press comfortably, or if you prefer not to pull out your phone in social settings. Your audiologist can order one matched to your hearing aid model.
Automatic Volume Adjustment
Most modern hearing aids also adjust volume on their own without any input from you. Built-in sensors classify your sound environment, whether it’s a quiet room, a noisy restaurant, or a windy sidewalk, and the hearing aid shifts its amplification settings automatically. Premium-tier hearing aids tend to do this more aggressively, with more compression channels and more steps of noise reduction. Basic-tier models have the same general capability but with fewer gradations.
This automatic system runs in the background even when you make manual changes. Think of it as a baseline that the hearing aid maintains, with your manual adjustments layered on top. If the automatic settings feel consistently too loud or too quiet in a particular environment, your audiologist can reprogram those baseline levels so you don’t have to manually override them every time.
Adjusting Volume While Streaming Audio
When you’re streaming a phone call, music, or a podcast to your hearing aids over Bluetooth, the simplest way to adjust volume is with the physical volume buttons on your phone, just like you would during a regular call. Make sure the audio is actively streaming first, then use the side buttons on your phone to raise or lower the level.
Some apps also let you adjust the balance between the streamed audio and the environmental sounds around you. This is useful if you want to hear music but still catch a conversation nearby. Look for a slider labeled something like “streaming balance” or “focus” in your manufacturer’s app.
Why Turning It Up Too High Causes Whistling
If your hearing aids start whistling when you raise the volume, that’s acoustic feedback. It happens when amplified sound leaks out of your ear canal and gets picked back up by the hearing aid’s microphone, creating a loop that produces a high-pitched squeal.
The most common triggers are:
- Volume set too high. Turning the level down even slightly can break the feedback loop immediately.
- Poor fit. Your ears change shape over time, and earmolds that once sealed tightly can loosen. If whistling is a recurring problem, you may need new earmolds made from a fresh impression.
- Earwax buildup. When wax blocks the ear canal, sound bounces back toward the microphone instead of reaching your eardrum. Professional ear cleaning often resolves this.
- The hearing aid isn’t seated correctly. Simply removing the aid and reinserting it with a firm, snug fit can stop the whistling.
When Low Volume Means Something Else
Sometimes you turn the volume up and the sound still feels weak or muffled. Before assuming you need more amplification, check for a blocked receiver or microphone port. Earwax, moisture, and debris can clog the tiny openings on the hearing aid, reducing the sound that reaches your ear. A soft brush or the cleaning tool that came with your aids can clear most blockages. Regular cleaning, ideally every evening when you take them out, prevents this from becoming a recurring problem.
If cleaning doesn’t help and the sound still seems muffled, the issue may be a change in your hearing rather than a problem with the device. Hearing levels can shift gradually, and what worked six months ago may no longer provide enough amplification. An updated hearing test lets your audiologist reprogram the aids to match your current needs.
Protecting Your Hearing While Using Hearing Aids
Hearing aids have built-in output limits set by your audiologist to prevent dangerously loud amplification. But it’s still worth understanding the thresholds. Prolonged exposure at or above 85 decibels can cause additional hearing damage over time, and the EPA has identified 70 decibels as a safe average over a 24-hour period for the general public. Your hearing aids are programmed to stay within safe boundaries, but if you’re consistently pushing the volume to its maximum, that’s a signal to have the programming reassessed rather than continuing to crank it higher.