For those who wear hearing aids, the occlusion effect might be aggravating. It's the feeling that your speech sounds muted like you are speaking with your ears blocked. Many consumers of hearing aids say they feel as though their head is inside a barrel. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent among those fitted with in-the-ear models or new to hearing aids.

Improving your hearing experience depends on knowing the occlusion effect. Fortunately, there are doable solutions to reduce this problem. Various possibilities exist, from selecting an openfit hearing aid to changing your current settings.

Certain hearing aids are even made to lessen ear occlusion, offering a clearer, more pleasant sound. Companies like Chosgo Hearing provide premium products to address the occlusion effect and improve general sound quality.

What Is the Occlusion Effect?

What is Occlusion? A phenomenon known as the occlusion effect results when anything, like a hearing aid, either partially or clogs the ear canal. Sound waves bounce back toward the eardrum when this occurs rather than normally escaping the ear. That makes your voice seem louder and more mumbled than usual. It's like what you experience when you cover your ears with your hands and talk.

Though usually benign, the occlusion effect can be annoying. Those who are first-time users of hearing aids may find some adjustments required. Sadly, some hearing aids—especially those that fit inside the ear canal—show this effect more clearly.

The good news is that the occlusion effect is minimized. Understanding its causes and investigating several remedies will help you to have a more natural and pleasant hearing.

Causes of the Occlusion Effect:

The blocking of the ear canal is the major reason for the occlusion effect. The most likely to create this problem are sealed ear canal hearing aids. That is so because normally occurring exit sounds from the ear are caught inside.

Common reasons for the occlusion effect include:

  1. IntheEar (ITE) Hearing Aids: The main offenders are hearing aids in the ear canal. Their blocking of the ear traps the sound from your voice.
  2. Improper Fit: If they don't fit correctly, even hearing aids that don't fill the ear canal can produce the occlusion effect. More sound can be trapped by a tightly fitted hearing aid than by one with a somewhat looser fit.
  3. New Hearing Aids: If you have never worn hearing aids, the occlusion effect may be more noticeable as you are not yet acclimated to how your voice sounds with a hearing device.

Resolving the hearing aid occlusion effect starts with knowledge of the underlying reasons.

How to Resolve the Occlusion Effect

Fortunately, the occlusion effect can be resolved with many techniques. You don't have to live with this permanently whether you have a new hearing aid or if your present one is giving you problems. Here are some workable fixes:

1. Choose OpenFit Hearing Aids   

The occlusion effect can be much lessened with hearing aids. These devices let sound naturally escape by leaving part of the ear canal accessible. It is designed to adjust behind the ear with a thin tube delivering sound into the ear without obstructing the ear canal, an open-fit variant. That can greatly reduce the "plugged" feeling generating occlusion.

Offering a range of hearing aids that produce clear, natural sound while lowering the danger of occlusion, Chosgo Hearing. Their devices are made with comfort in mind, so you might hear your surroundings without feeling as though your voice is being shut off.

2. Adjust Your Hearing Aid Settings

Customizable settings abound on many contemporary hearing aids. Try varying the bass or amplification levels if you have the same effect. The muffling of lower-frequency sounds can be lessened by reducing their amplification. A "vent" function on hearing aids lets air and sound pass more naturally through the ear canal.

Your audiologist can help you to adjust your hearing aids to lessen the impact of occlusion. Companies like Chosgo Hearing also help consumers ensure their gadget is tuned for the optimal hearing experience.

3. Opt for CustomFitted Hearing Aids

Should your hearing aid not fit correctly, the occlusion effect could be aggravating. It is made to your ear form, and custom-fitted hearing aids guarantee a more exact and pleasant fit. Your hearing aids are less likely to clog the ear canal when they fit well, enabling more free flow of sound.

Explore several models and customizing choices at Chosgo Hearing to identify the ideal fit for your ears. Customized fits let you minimize occlusion while experiencing improved sound quality.

4. Use a vent.

Certain hearing aids feature a vent, a tiny aperture allowing sound and air to pass the ear canal. By stopping the accumulation of sound inside the ear, this vent can help to lower the occlusion effect. Ask your audiologist if it is possible to have a vent included in your present hearing aid.

On the other hand, you might want to consider moving to a vented model—like that Chosgo Hearing offers. Including vents to minimize the occlusion effect, these hearing aids are made with user comfort in mind.

5. Practice Wearing Your Hearing Aids

If you recently started wearing hearing aids, the occlusion effect could fade as you grow used to the new sound experience. Many people discover that their brain adjusts to the way their voice sounds after wearing their hearing aids for a few weeks, therefore reducing the occlusion effect.

One should be patient and provide time for the adaptation of your ears. If the occlusion effect lasts, consider other choices, such as changing your device settings or moving to a new model from a reputable manufacturer like Chosgo Hearing.

Additional Tips for Improving Your Hearing Aid Experience

Apart from solving the occlusion effect, there are other ways to improve your whole experience with hearing aids:

  • Regular Maintenance: Regular cleaning of your hearing aids will help to avoid earwax accumulation, which might obstruct sound and aggravate the occlusion effect.
  • Professional CheckUps: Plan regular visits to your audiologist to ensure your hearing aids are working. They can aid with any required corrections.
  • Stay Informed: Keep current on the most recent developments in hearing aid technologies. Features of newer models sometimes help to lessen problems like occlusion.

The best hearing and comfort with a hearing aid depends on selecting the correct one. A range of modern hearing aids meant to improve your auditory experience while addressing typical problems like the occlusion effect is available at Chosgo Hearing.

Conclusion

Although most users of hearing aids deal with the occlusion effect, it does not have to reduce your experience. Understanding its causes, looking at open-fit devices, setting adjustments, or custom-fitted models will help you greatly reduce the impact.

Providers such as Chosgo Hearing provide premium hearing aids to address these issues, guaranteeing better, more natural sound. There are choices available to help you hear comfortably and confidently whether your current experience looks to be improved or you are new to hearing aids.