You’re having a Zoom call with your grandchild and you’ve been anticipating it all week! You’ll have a great time and get caught up with your beloved family members.
But when the call begins, you are horrified to find out, you can’t hear what your family members are saying. Your hearing aids are in, but everything sounds muffled.
You’re incredibly disappointed.
Modern marvels muffled
Modern hearing aids are celebrated for their ability to deliver crystal clear sounds. So when that doesn’t happen, that can be very discouraging. Hearing aids are designed to help you hear better, right? But your hearing aids are not improving your hearing. Actually, they’re making everything sound muffled. The hearing aid itself may not even be the problem.
What’s the cause of that muffling?
So why do voices sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher if your hearing aids are functioning properly? Well, there are several things you can do to correct the problem.
Earwax
If I had a dime for every problem that earwax has caused (in general, not me personally), I’d be a rich (but still cranky) man. Earwax may have accumulated against the microphone and that may be the source of your trouble. Amplification is muffled when earwax blocks your hearing aid’s ability to detect sound.
Here are some indications that earwax may be the problem.:
- Visually look over your hearing aids. In other words, take a good look at the device before you put it in your ear. If you notice any earwax, try to remove it.
- Power-up the hearing aid. The issue is likely to be the microphone (probably wax buildup) and not the speaker if all of the start-up sounds are normal when you turn on the hearing aid.
It’s also possible that earwax has accumulated not on your hearing aid but in your ear. In those instances, make sure to clean out your ears in a safe way (a cotton swab, by the way, is not a safe way). The troubleshooting will have to continue if the muffled sound lingers even after you’ve cleaned your ears and your hearing aid.
Infection
Infection will be the next thing to consider if earwax isn’t accountable. This could be a normal ear infection. Sometimes, it may be an inner ear infection. Both are worth making an appointment for an evaluation.
Swelling of the ear canal and middle ear can be the outcome of both kinds of infection. This swelling blocks the transmission of sound and, consequently, the sound you’re hearing is muffled. Management might include some antibiotics. Once the infection goes away, your hearing should return to normal.
Batteries
You just need to replace your battery. Hearing aids can sound muffled when the batteries get low so make sure you watch for that. Even if your hearing aids are rechargeable this can still be true. It’s possible, in many cases, that your hearing aids will become crystal clear again after you change the batteries with new ones.
Hearing loss
If you’re still having trouble hearing, don’t ignore the possibility that your hearing loss has changed. Consider scheduling an appointment for a hearing examination if you haven’t had one in the past year. Not only will you be able to be certain your hearing aids are properly programmed, but we will also be able to do a professional clean and check on your device.
Don’t let it linger
It’s certainly a smart idea to come in for a consultation if you’ve tried all this and your hearing aid still sounds muffled. If the muffled sounds linger, you may find yourself wearing your hearing aids less (or turning up the volume on your TV again). And all of that could start renewed hearing damage.
So, don’t let it linger. Make an appointment with us so you can get back to hearing before that big family get-together. If you can actually hear what everyone is saying you’ll you’ll have a lot more fun.