You’re having a Zoom call with your grandchild and you’ve been looking forward to it all week! You’ll have a blast and get caught up with your cherished family members.
But when the call begins, you are mortified to realize, you can’t hear what your family members are saying. Your hearing aids are in, but everything seems muffled.
You’re incredibly frustrated.
Modern marvels muffled
Modern hearing aids are celebrated for their ability to provide very clear sounds. So when that doesn’t happen, that can be really frustrating. You’re supposed to have clearer hearing when you’re using hearing aids, right? But your hearing aids are not improving your hearing. Actually, they’re making everything sound muffled. The problem might not be the hearing aid at all.
What’s causing that muffling?
So why do voices sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher if your hearing aids are functioning correctly? Well, there are a few things you can do to try to right the ship, as it were.
Earwax
If I had a dime for every issue 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 problem. The earwax interferes with your hearing aid’s ability to detect sound and, as a result, the amplification is muffled.
You may be able to tell if earwax is the problem by:
- Doing a visual inspection. Don’t just put your hearing aid in without getting a good look at it. If you notice any earwax, try to clean it off.
- Turning the hearing aid on. The problem is likely to be the microphone (probably wax buildup) and not the speaker if all of the start-up sounds are normal when you power-up the hearing aid.
It’s also possible that earwax has built up not on your hearing aid but in your ear. Be sure, in those situations, you safely clean out your ears (cotton swabs are not recommended). If the muffled issue remains after you’ve cleaned up your hearing aid and your ears, you’ll need to continue troubleshooting.
Infection
So, if earwax isn’t the problem, the next likely reason will be an infection. This could be a normal ear infection. Or it may be an inner ear infection. Both are worth setting up an appointment for an evaluation.
Ear infections of various kinds and causes can produce swelling in your ear canal or middle ear. This swelling blocks the transmission of sound and, therefore, the sound you’re hearing is muffled. Management might include some antibiotics. Once the infection clears, your hearing should go back to normal.
Batteries
You just need to replace your battery. Hearing aids can sound muffled when the batteries get low so make sure you check for that. This is still true even if you have rechargeable batteries. It’s possible, in many instances, that your hearing aids will become crystal clear again after you replace the batteries with fresh ones.
Hearing loss
If you’re still having trouble hearing, don’t ignore the possibility that your hearing loss has changed. Think about scheduling an appointment for a hearing test if you haven’t had one in the last year. While you’re here having your hearing aid adjusted we can also do an inspection and cleaning.
Don’t let it linger
It’s certainly a good plan to come see us for a consultation if you’ve tried all this and your hearing aid still sounds muffled. You may find yourself putting your hearing aids in a drawer and turning your TV up again if you don’t eliminate this muffling problem. And all of that could start renewed hearing damage.
Letting it linger is not a good idea. Make an appointment with us so you can get back to hearing before that big family get-together. You’ll enjoy yourself more if you can actually hear what everyone is saying!
