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Stretta whistling in one ear only

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Edited

I have 2 Stretta hearing aids (NHS) after having had 2 Oticon hearing aids. Both Strettas (L&R) have been replaced after failing. The R Stretta ‘screams’ in my ear, the L one does not. It is NOT battery/blocked tube/not deep enough in my ear/any other usual excuse. The ‘scream’ occurs when close to something. Eg bring my hand close to right ear it screams, not so in left. Move my head in a certain way & it screams but stops when my head ‘moves on’. This movement can be repeated and the same problem occurs. I wear spectacles, but removing those does not stop the problem. It’s clearly something to do with feedback but I don’t understand why, nor why the left earpiece is not similarly affected. Any ideas? Anyone else had this problem with Strettas?

@baslowman said:

The ‘scream’ occurs when close to something. Eg bring my hand close to right ear it screams

It sounds like typical feedback from the right not sealing in the ear canal.

You may need different domes. If working with the domes doesn’t fix the issue, then you can try sealing gel.

There’s a product called Otoferm, which is a lube you put around the dome that creates a tighter seal. It stops itching also.

It’s definitely feedback! No doubt at all sounds are leaking out past you dome or moulds, post your audogram will help, sometimes a build up of wax can also cause so check that as well.

Edited

Signia Strettas look like they were released in 2021.
As you get older, sometimes there is shrinkage in the soft tissue around your ears which can cause more sound to leak out of your ear canals and back into the microphones, causing feedback whistling. This could happen in a slightly asymmetrical manner.

Signia’s feedback manager from this generation of products wasn’t so good for adaptive changes in the feedback path.

I would recommend going back to your audiologist and getting the devices checked and serviced, your ears examined and the feedback calibration run.

Get them to re-calibrate own voice processing for you at the same time for the same reason.

thanks for all your feedback (pun intended). It is indeed feedback. Simple test is to have in place, bring hand close to ear - whistling starts & stops when hand is moved away. Leaving HA in place, now block ear with finger & repeat hand movement. No feedback but (obv) I can still hear things.

Will now attempt to adjust ear pieces for a better fit.

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