Occlusion effect when wearing hearing aids

• Dec 13, 2012

Occlusion effect when wearing hearing aids

Updated May 2023

Hearing aid wearers often get an occlusion effect when wearing hearing aids that cover the entire ear.
It's like a hollow or booming effect. You can simulate this effect by putting both of your fingers in your ear and talking.

For a hearing aid wearer this can be a nuisance. It can be described as sounding like your own voice whilst eating.
It is often worse in people with a high frequency loss as the noise they are hearing are a lower frequency sound.

Some wearers may opt for a receiver in the canal hearing aid where a tube with a receiver connects to the hearing device sitting behind your ear.
The silicon nodes at the end of this type of aid have holes and are very comfortable. These are now the most popular style of hearing aid.

Buying a hearing aid is a big decision. It is important to ensure a comfortable fit especially for those who have not worn them before. Hence a good audiologist will offer trials and a quality fitting to ensure a better long-term outcome.

Invisible Hearing Aids

These aids are virtually hidden from view. The smaller size does limit some aspects of this style. One wearer commented on the difference the size of the vent is, has a direct effect on the occlusion effect. Steve compared an aid that had a smaller vent and found the larger vent worked better in terms of his own voice.

Read about open vs closed hearing aid fittings.

• Hearing Aids