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Fine Hearing Care - Edmond, OK

Happy mature middle aged adult woman wearing hearing aids waving hand holding digital tablet computer video conference calling by social distance virtual family online chat meeting sitting on couch at home

You’ve been looking forward to this all week: a Zoom call with your son and daughter-in-law. You’ll have a blast and catch-up with your beloved family members.

But when you log in you notice, to your horror and frustration, that you can’t hear very well. Your hearing aids are in, but everything seems muffled.

You’re incredibly frustrated.

Modern marvels muffled

It’s well recognized that you can experience crystal clear sound with modern hearing aids. So when that doesn’t occur, that can be very depressing. You should have better hearing when you’re using hearing aids, right? But your hearing aids are not helping your hearing. In fact, they’re making everything sound muffled. The problem might not be the hearing aid at all.

Why do my hearing aids sound muffled?

Ok, so, if the hearing aid is working properly, why does everyone sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher? Well, there are several things you can do to fix the problem.

Earwax

You’d be rich if you had a nickel for every time earwax caused trouble. The problem with your hearing aid might be a build-up of earwax against the microphone. Amplification is muffled when earwax obstructs your hearing aid’s ability to pick up sound.

Here are some signs that earwax could be the problem.:

  • Power-up the hearing aid. The issue is likely to be the microphone (probably wax accumulation) and not the speaker if all of the start-up sounds are normal when you turn on the hearing aid.
  • Doing a visual inspection. Don’t just put your hearing aid in without getting a good look at it. Clean it completely if you notice any earwax.

It’s also possible that earwax has built up not on your hearing aid but inside of 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 need to continue if the muffled sound remains even after you’ve cleaned your ears and your hearing aid.

Infection

So, if earwax isn’t the issue, the next likely reason will be an infection. Sometimes, this could be a common ear infection. Sometimes, it may be an inner ear infection. Both are worth making an appointment for an assessment.

Ear infections of several kinds and causes can create swelling in your ear canal or middle ear. This swelling blocks the transmission of sound and, therefore, your hearing is muffled. Management may include some antibiotics. Once the infection clears, your hearing should go back to normal.

Batteries

It’s also very possible that your hearing aid batteries are in need to be charged. Hearing aids can sound muffled when the batteries get low so be sure to check for that. Even if your hearing aids are rechargeable this can be true. Sometimes, changing the batteries with fresh ones can make your hearing aids sound crystal clear again.

Hearing loss

If you’re still having problems hearing, don’t discount 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 reprogrammed we can also do an inspection and cleaning.

Don’t let it linger

If you try all this troubleshooting and nothing really helps, it’s certainly worth taking some time to come in for a consultation. You may find yourself leaving your hearing aids in a drawer and turning your TV up again if you don’t eliminate this muffling problem. Your hearing may then begin to sustain additional damage.

So, don’t let it linger. If you can’t clean out some earwax and get hearing again, schedule a hearing examination with us today and get everything cleared up before your next family event. You’ll enjoy yourself more if you can actually hear what everyone is saying!

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The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.
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