Fewer than 30% of the 28.8 million American adults who could benefit from hearing aids wear them. One major reason for this is the occlusion effect, which is when your voice sounds echoey or booming in your own head due to an obstruction in the ear. The occlusion effect can be somewhat uncomfortable and may discourage many from wearing these necessary devices, so let’s discuss ways to minimize it.
What Is the Occlusion Effect?
Sounds like chewing, swallowing and speaking create sound waves, just like sounds that originate outside your body. These sound waves travel through internal pathways to the inner ear (which transmits the sounds to the auditory lobe in the brain for sound processing) and then escape through the ear canal.
If an object completely or partially seals off the ear canal, however, the sound waves become trapped. Instead of escaping, they bounce against the obstruction and go back into the ear canal, striking the eardrum and creating an echoing effect. Things like hearing aids, headphones and earplugs can all cause the occlusion effect.
How Can I Minimize the Occlusion Effect?
If you’ve been experiencing the occlusion effect with your hearing aids, there are some steps you can take to reduce it.
1. Adjust the Programming
If your hearing aids are set to a higher amplification level, they may be amplifying the sound waves that cause the occlusion effect, making the effect worse. Lowering the amplification levels, even slightly, could make a massive difference in the echoing.
Additionally, the occlusion effect is especially pronounced with lower-frequency sounds. Check your settings for how low pitches are being amplified and turn that setting down. This may also combat the occlusion effect.
2. Clean Your Hearing Aids
You should be cleaning your hearing aids daily. The primary reason for this is that earwax and debris can accumulate and cause blockages in key areas of your hearing aids, including the ventilation system. Your hearing aids have vents in their design that are meant to help with the occlusion effect: they provide an escape for those sound waves. If the vents become clogged with earwax, the sound waves remain trapped.
Earwax buildup around the body of the hearing aid will also seal your ear canal, which can worsen the occlusion effect. Routinely cleaning your hearing aids of earwax is critical.
3. Try A New Style or Fit
When you first selected your hearing aids, you were presented with many options for fit, style and types. One such option was the earmolds and domes. The shape and fit of these can impact your hearing and the occlusion effect. Open domes are one solution. They have multiple holes in them, allowing sound waves to escape more easily.
You should also consult your audiologist on whether your hearing aids fit properly. An improper fit can change how the ear canal is sealed and exacerbate the occlusion effect.
If you’re interested in any of these solutions and want to discuss more, call Gulf Coast Audiology today. Don’t let the occlusion effect impact your hearing health and disconnect you from these life-saving devices.