With their ability to boost communication and quality of life, hearing aids are a significant benefit. Yet, a few people experience headaches when they first begin wearing hearing aids. Luckily, in spite of the frustration, these headaches are often short-lived and can be easily relieved with proper adjustments and care. We will now explore the reasons for these headaches and how to resolve them.
The main reasons hearing aids result in headaches
- Poor Fitting: If your hearing aid isn’t fitted correctly, it can put pressure on sensitive parts of the ear, resulting in discomfort and headaches. An improperly fitted device is probably the cause if you are experiencing headaches shortly after getting a new hearing aid.
- Sound Overload: Let your brain have time to adjust to the louder sound input. Things you didn’t hear before– like ambient noise– can feel overwhelming and cause a headache when you first hear them. However, this sensation should self-correct before long.
- Excessive Volume Setting: Headaches may result if the volume setting is too high, as the extra sound input can cause fatigue in the auditory system. You should try to begin with a lower volume and then slowly increase it as you get used to the new auditory input.
- Feedback and Whistling: If your hearing aids emit feedback or a high-pitched whistle, it can lead to irritation in the ears and trigger tension headaches. If your device is producing irritating sounds, talk to your hearing specialist.
- The Acclimation Phase: Remember: Your brain needs time to adapt to the use of your hearing aid. The brain is in the process of re-learning how to process sounds during this adjustment phase, which can lead to minor discomfort, including headaches.
Solutions for preventing and managing headaches
- Get a Proper Fitting: Be certain your hearing aids are professionally fitted to prevent pressure points in your ear canal.
- Adjust Volume Gradually: Start with a comfortable volume level and slowly increase it to prevent taxing your auditory system.
- Background noise reduction features are common in modern hearing aids. If your device is without this, ask your audiologist about adjusting the settings or replacing the device.
- Take Listening Breaks: To avoid sensory fatigue during the adjustment phase, allow your brain and ears a rest throughout the day.
- Keep in touch with your audiologist for fine-tuning, specifically if you feel discomfort from your device.
When to see a hearing specialist for your headaches
It’s time to seek advise from an audiologist if the headaches do not stop after the initial adaptation or if they are accompanied by other symptoms, for example nausea, ear pain, or dizziness.
Persistent headaches may indicate that you have wrong device settings or an unseen problem, including a hearing aid malfunction or an ear infection.
The benefits of a correctly adjusted hearing aid
With professional assistance, headaches from hearing aids are generally temporary and easy to fix, in spite of being annoying. The right hearing aid, properly adjusted to fit your needs, can significantly enhance your quality of life without causing discomfort. If you experience any problems, contact your audiologist– your comfort and hearing health matter! At the end of the day, if your hearing aid is leading to pain, your audiologist knows you’re prone to stop wearing it.
A Common Side Effects
Headaches resulting from hearing aids are no cause for worry– think of them as a minor setback toward better hearing. What you’re going through is common, and can probably be resolved with a few tweaks. With the correct care and adjustments, you’ll be back on track, enjoying conversations, music, and the subtle sounds of life in no time!
Schedule an appointment now if you are experiencing hearing-aid related headaches.