An elderly patient wearing hearing aids is unresponsive during questions, and you hear a whistling sound from the devices. Which action should you take?

• A. Remove both of his hearing aids and use pencil and paper to communicate.
• B. Recognize that the batteries in his hearing aids are probably depleted.
• C. Try repositioning the hearing aid or remove it and turn down the volume.
• D. Remove his hearing aids, turn up the volume, and replace them in his ears.

Answer: (C)

Whistling from a hearing aid is feedback, usually caused by the device not fitting correctly or being out of position. When you’re assessing an unresponsive patient, stopping the feedback is important so you can communicate or check for responsiveness. Repositioning the hearing aid so it sits properly in the ear often eliminates the whine. If the whistling continues, remove the device and turn down the volume before attempting to reinsert or recheck. Turning up the volume would worsen the feedback and isn’t the right move when the goal is to communicate or assess safely.