Why Does My Own Voice Sound Strange With Hearing Aids?

Short answer

When you first wear hearing aids, your own voice may sound unusually loud, deep, hollow or blocked. Sometimes this is part of adjustment. In other cases, the fit of the earmould or device, or the programming, contributes to the problem.

A common reason is the occlusion effect. In simple terms, when the ear canal is sealed more tightly, low-frequency energy from your own voice is trapped more inside the ear and can sound boomy.

If the effect is mild, it may reduce as you adapt. If your voice is very uncomfortable or remains strongly distorted, the fitting should be checked.

Why your own voice is special

You hear your own voice through the air and through vibration conducted through the skull and tissues. A hearing aid changes this familiar balance, and an earmould or in-ear device may partially close the ear canal.

What the occlusion effect feels like

People often describe:

• “my voice booms”;
• “I sound like I am in a barrel”;
• “my ear feels blocked”;
• “I hear myself too loudly”;
• “chewing and footsteps sound inside my head”.

Is it always occlusion?

No. Similar complaints can come from:

• amplification settings;
• a very tight fit;
• venting;
• adjustment to a new sound pattern;
• ear blockage or middle-ear problems.

That is why it helps to describe exactly what your voice sounds like and when the problem occurs.

What to tell the audiologist

Useful descriptions include:

• “too loud”;
• “too low and boomy”;
• “echoing”;
• “only in one ear”;
• “worse after a new earmould”;
• “worse when I speak loudly”.

What can be adjusted

Depending on the cause, the professional may review:

• physical fit;
• earmould shape;
• venting;
• gain and frequency response;
• sound programs;
• the ear canal itself.

What not to modify yourself

Do not drill, cut or reshape an earmould yourself, and do not make large programming changes without understanding what they affect. These changes can reduce speech audibility or damage the fit.

When to ask for an earlier review

Arrange an earlier hearing-aid follow-up if:

• the device physically hurts or creates strong pressure;
• your own voice is so unpleasant that you avoid speaking;
• the problem began after a new earmould or a change in fit;
• the effect remains marked and does not become more comfortable with ordinary use.

If hearing drops suddenly or changes markedly in one ear, or you develop new ear pain, discharge, significant dizziness or other acute ear symptoms, seek medical assessment rather than treating the problem as a routine fitting issue.

FAQ

Will this always go away on its own?

No. Some mild complaints improve with adaptation, but persistent or severe own-voice problems deserve a fitting/programming review.

Should I simply turn the hearing aid down?

Not necessarily. Lowering all amplification may also reduce speech audibility. A targeted adjustment is often better.

Hearing-aid fitting in Almaty

Ekaterina Vladimirovna Kravchenko provides hearing-aid fitting and follow-up in Almaty. If your own voice sounds boomy or too loud, the fit and programming can be reviewed.

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• /pages/about.