Squelch, Chirping

Hearing Aids
1

I started getting this intermittent squelch/chirping sound from my left hearing aid.
It started after I had my audi change the tube about a week ago.
It doesn’t happen all the time. Sometimes I can just move my head a little and I will hear this chirp. Sometimes watching tv, I’m guessing certain sounds ( not sure ) will cause the hearing aid to chirp.
I can’t figure out what could be causing this. There was not adjustments made to the programming.
I inspected the new tube she put in, it appears to be fine. No cracks, or tears.
Anyone have any suggestion as to what could be causing this ?
Is there a possibility that if the tube is too long or too short it could cause the chirping.

Thanx for your help
Laura

2

Sounds like feedback. Since something about the fit was changed, new tubing, maybe there is a path for sound to get out. Your pro can track it down.

3

How about if you cup your hand over your ear? If that makes it happen, suggests feedback, although I don’t know why a tubing change would make this happen. I think ultimately the answer lies in visiting your audiologist.

4

Is the tube the same thickness as your old one? People who are severe or profound need thickwall tubing.

5

Even if the tube appears fine, there may be a problem with how it was inserted or even the tube itself, which is causing the chirping/squelching. It seems that if the sound comes when you move your head, it’s a physical issue with the aid/tube connection. Something must’ve changed after you got a new tube swapped in. Hope you get this resolved and let US know what the issue was, too!

6

Tubing change may have been coincidental to wax build-up in the ear.

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7

Thank You everyone for your help. As soon as my audi returns, she will be able to find the problem.
Laura

8

Hi

If the tube was too long or short then your hearing aid wouldn’t sit well behind your ear and would be uncomfortable.

I’d go back to your audio and get it checked. There may be something in Zebras thoughts about tube thickness being the cause. I’ve always had thick tubes and have never known this to be an issue.

9

Thank you.
I have never had this problem before.
Especially for the left side.
In the past, I have always changed the tubes myself, and always used the thick tubes.
This time around I ran out of the tubes and forgot to purchase them, so I thought I’d have her change them.
As soon as I can get back to see her, I’ll have her confirm the thick tubes and have her change them again.
I ordered some new tubes so in the future, I’ll know the right ones are being used.
Thanks for your help.
Laura

10

ReSound has a video at Audiology Online designed to explain stuff to audiologists about their feedback suppression and feedback profile for an individual.

In explaining feedback, why it occurs, and how to deal with it, they say a couple of interesting things.

According to them, the greatest region of feedback is centered around the 3.5 KHz frequency. The resonant frequencies of an individual’s ear canal are usually somewhere around here.

They advise the provider that if a patient shows up complaining about feedback, the first two things to check before going whole hog on how the HA('s) are working is:

  1. Examine the patient for ear wax buildup. Ear wax makes the canal more reflective and increases feedback.
  2. Look for cracked or broken tubing - forget whether there was an explanation for this but maybe a tube with an opening serves as a channel to conduct sound back to the HA (kinda like a wave guide in a fiber optic cable?).
11

Can you explain why thick tubing is needed for profound loss ? I’m just curious.
I have always used thick tubing and never thought to question why.
Maybe this squelching and chirping is the reason.
I ordered my thick tubing, should be here in a few days. My Audi is still out sick, so if she isn’t back at the office by the time my tubing’s come in, I’ll go ahead and change them.
I did look at the thickness of the tubing she put on, and it does appear to be thin.
I’m amazed that something like the tubing thickness can make such a difference.
Laura

12

Thicker tubes helps with feedback and hearing the low frequencies for people with profound losses.

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13

Thank You. That explains the chirping and squelching.:relieved:

14

There’s also an argument for turning off/down the frequencies that might be giving you the issues, if you’ve got no actual hearing in those areas. If the aid is running to full saturation (giving feedback) it may be causing distortion in the adjacent frequencies where you have usable hearing left.

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