If you’re new to hearing aids, you’ve taken a significant step toward better hearing and improved quality of life. But if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by some of the sounds you hear, you’re not alone. A common experience for new wearers is encountering a world that’s suddenly full of noises – some you haven’t heard in years and others that seem unfamiliar or annoying.
This guide will walk you through common sounds that hearing aid users often struggle with and provide practical tips for reducing their impact. We’ll also explain the difference between hearing aid feedback noise and amplified environmental sounds and discuss the modern technology designed to help.
Ten Noises That New Hearing Aid Wearers Notice
When you wear hearing aids, everything gets amplified, which can take some getting used to. Here are ten sounds that new hearing aid users often find bothersome:
- Wind noise, especially when you’re outdoors.
- Hair brushing over hearing aids, which can create a distracting scratching or rustling sound.
- Rustling of clothing, especially if you’re moving or wearing layers.
- Your own chewing or swallowing sounds, which can be amplified in an almost startling way.
- Background conversations in busy places, like restaurants or social gatherings.
- The hum of household appliances, like refrigerators or air conditioners.
- Footsteps on hard surfaces, which can sound oddly loud or sharp.
- The sound of paper rustling when handling documents.
- The sound of running water from taps or showers.
- High-pitched electronic noises from gadgets, such as microwaves or alarms.
You might be wondering why these sounds are so noticeable. Well, the hearing aid is doing its job – picking up sounds from your environment and amplifying them. But some sounds, especially those we haven’t focused on for a while, can feel unnaturally loud. Over time, your brain will likely adjust, but in the meantime, there are ways to cope.
Annoying Sounds Versus Hearing Aid Feedback
Understanding the distinction between amplified environmental sounds and hearing aid feedback noise is essential.
Amplified environmental sounds are just the regular sounds around you – wind, footsteps, paper rustling – that your hearing aid amplifies.
On the other hand, hearing aid feedback noise is a high-pitched whistling or squealing sound caused by sound leakage. It can happen if the hearing aid isn’t fitted correctly or if amplified sound escapes your ear canal and is picked up again by the microphone, creating a feedback loop. If this happens often, you’ll want to check the fit or have your hearing aid professionally adjusted.
If you’re experiencing feedback noise, it’s often an internal issue with the device, and there are simple fixes. For example, hearing aids blocked with earwax can create feedback and require cleaning. In contrast, amplified sounds are simply part of the environment, but there are ways to reduce how much they bother you.
How Do Hearing Aids Amplify Sound?
Before we discuss strategies for reducing annoying sounds, let’s briefly discuss how hearing aids work. Hearing aids pick up sound from your surroundings using tiny microphones, process it through an amplifier, and send the sound to your ear at an amplified volume. This helps you hear better in conversations and environments where you might otherwise struggle.
However, hearing aids aren’t perfect at distinguishing between wanted sounds (like someone’s voice) and unwanted sounds (like wind or footsteps). That’s where modern noise reduction technologies come in.
Modern Hearing Aids Have Noise Reduction
Most modern hearing aids are equipped with advanced noise reduction algorithms. These algorithms use modulation rate analysis and spectral subtraction to filter out unwanted background noise and focus on speech, making engaging in conversations in noisy environments easier.
For example, research has shown that directional microphones can significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio, making it easier to understand speech in a crowded room. These microphones are designed to focus on sound coming from the facing direction while reducing sound from other directions. This technology can be a lifesaver in environments with a lot of background chatter, like a café or a family gathering.
How to Reduce Annoying Sounds
Wind Noise: Wind noise is a notorious complaint among hearing aid users, especially in outdoor settings. Some hearing aids have built-in wind noise reduction features, but you can also try using wind covers or adjusting your hearing aid settings to reduce sensitivity to lower frequencies, where wind noise tends to occur.
Hair or Clothing Rustling: This rustling can be frustrating, but correctly positioning your hearing aids can help. If your hair is brushing against the microphone, try tucking it behind your ears or experimenting with different styles. Similarly, avoiding high collars or scarves that brush against the hearing aids can minimise this noise.
Chewing and Swallowing: While it may seem like your chewing sounds are magnified to ridiculous levels, this is a natural side effect of amplification. Over time, your brain will adapt to this sound. However, if it’s unbearable, talk to your audiologist, who can adjust the frequency response to reduce the amplification of these internal sounds.
Background Conversations: This is one of the most challenging environments for hearing aid wearers. Directional microphones can help, but many people also find that combining their hearing aids with visual cues, like lip reading, makes a big difference.
Household Hum: The constant hum of appliances can be an unwelcome side effect of wearing hearing aids. Some hearing aids have noise management features that can reduce this, but you can also experiment with different listening programmes to find one that suits quieter environments.
Individual Factors: Why Listening Effort Varies
Interestingly, listening effort – the mental energy required to focus on and understand speech – varies from person to person. Research suggests that factors like working memory, verbal processing speed, and lip reading skills can influence how well someone adapts to hearing aids. For instance, slower verbal processors may experience more significant benefits from hearing aids because the devices help to improve auditory input, reducing the strain on the brain.
Coping Strategies for Noisy Environments
Even with the best hearing aids, noisy environments can still be challenging. Here are three strategies to help you cope:
- Position yourself strategically: Try to face the speaker or sit in a quieter part of the room. Position the room noise to be behind you.
- Use visual cues: Watching people’s lips as they speak can significantly improve comprehension.
- Use hearing aid programmes: Many hearing aids come with different listening programmes for various environments. Ask your audiologist about creating custom settings for specific noisy situations.
Eight Tips for Adjusting to Hearing Aids
Adapting to hearing aids takes time, and there are several strategies you can use to make the process smoother. If you’re struggling with new sounds or noisy environments, try these tips to help you get the most out of your hearing aids:
- Wear Your Hearing Aids Regularly: The more you wear them, the faster your brain will adapt to the amplified sounds. Your brain needs time to relearn how to filter out unnecessary background noises, and consistent use is the best way to speed up this process.
- Start in Quiet Environments: If you’re overwhelmed by noisy places, begin by wearing your hearing aids in quieter settings. This lets you get used to the amplified sounds in a less stressful environment. Gradually work your way up to louder settings, such as restaurants or social gatherings.
- Use the Correct Hearing Aid Programme: Many hearing aids come with customisable settings for different environments, such as “quiet,” “noise,” or “music” modes. If you’re in a noisy situation, switch to a program designed explicitly for background noise. Consult your audiologist to ensure your device is set up for these environments.
- Reduce Volume Gradually: If everything initially sounds too loud, resist the urge to reduce the volume. Gradually reduce the volume until you find a comfortable level, but keep it high enough to benefit from speech amplification.
- Communicate with Your Audiologist: Your audiologist can fine-tune your hearing aids to better suit your needs. If you still struggle with certain noises or discomfort after a few weeks, schedule a follow-up appointment to adjust the settings.
- Leverage Visual Cues: In noisy environments, lipreading and body language can help supplement what you’re hearing. This strategy allows you to better understand speech when your hearing aids are working hard to manage background noise.
- Take Breaks: Taking breaks is okay if you feel overwhelmed by noise. Remove your hearing aids for a few minutes, especially in noisy places, to avoid listening fatigue.
- Practice Listening Exercises: Practice recognising and identifying sounds in different environments. This could be as simple as sitting in a park or cafe and focusing on specific sounds, like a person’s voice while ignoring background noise. Over time, your brain will improve at filtering out unnecessary noise.
Getting Used to Your Hearing Aids
Adapting to hearing aids can take up to four months, but it’s important to remember that your brain is remarkably adaptable. Many sounds you notice now will fade into the background as your brain learns to filter out the noise and focus on what’s important.
Modern hearing aids are equipped with noise-reduction technologies to help, and with patience, you’ll find that these devices can make a big difference in your life.
If you have any concerns or are experiencing persistent issues, don’t hesitate to consult with your audiologist. They can adjust your hearing aid settings to better suit your needs, making the transition smoother and more comfortable.
Thank you, that is useful information!
I have been severely hard of hearing since birth (am now 67 years old) and have been wearing hearing aids since age 14. Last year I suffered a serious viral infection in my ears and what little bit of natural hearing I had, is now gone. I got two new, hearing aids a month ago, based on my audiology test and they are extremely effective and my hearing with the new hearing aids is actually now better than ever. However, I find that the sound of my car while driving, to be extremely intrusive and harsh, to the point that I actually want to switch off the hearing aids. The sounds that I hear, emanate from road noise and other traffic. These intrusive noises were never prevalent with my previous hearing aids. Is this normal and can it be because of the improved technology? The noise is driving me nuts! Please advise. Thank you.
Hi Jannie,
Road and engine noise often sits in the low‑frequency range that modern hearing aids can provide more gain for when the prescription calls for it. Your audiologist can usually reduce this without sacrificing speech clarity.
Ask about:
A dedicated “driving” program – lower low‑frequency gain and a stronger steady‑state noise‑reduction setting that you can select as soon as you start the car.
Automatic noise‑management – many aids detect continuous sounds such as road rumble and soften them in real time; the feature simply needs to be activated and set high enough to help without dulling conversation from passengers.
Microphone directionality – focusing the microphones forward can cut tyre and traffic noise, provided the pattern still lets essential warning sounds (e.g. sirens, horns) reach you.
If the cabin remains noisy after these tweaks, also check the ear‑tips or moulds, as an overly tight seal can cause problems.
Book a follow‑up with your audiologist if possible. Small adjustments are often all that’s needed to restore comfort while preserving the gains you’ve made.
Thank you very much for the prompt advice. Much appreciated! Jannie
Hi there,a first time user,just had my aids for a week and since i started wearing them,the left ear gets a rustling sound.they are inserted correct.it seems weird that its only the left one.and its done it from day one.tia rod
Hi Rod,
A rustling sound in one hearing aid—especially from day one—is usually something minor rather than a fault. It can come from a slight difference in how the left aid sits in your ear, a bit of moisture or wax, or even the microphone picking up movement (like hair or jaw motion).
Because it’s only on one side and hasn’t settled, it’s worth having it checked. The best step is to book a quick follow-up with your audiologist. They can inspect the fit, check the ear, and fine-tune the settings or device if needed.
Early adjustments like this are very common and typically straightforward to resolve.