You’ve probably noted that when movies or television shows get really intense, they start using close-ups (possibly even extreme close-ups). That’s because the human face conveys a lot of information (more information than you’re probably consciously aware of). To say that human beings are very facially focused is, well, not a stretch.
So having all of your primary human sensors, nose, eyes, ears, and mouth, on the face is not surprising. The face is cram packed (in an aesthetically wonderful way, of course).
But when your face requires more than one assistive device, it can become an issue. For instance, wearing glasses and hearing aids can become a bit… cumbersome. In some circumstances, you might even have difficulties. You will have a simpler time wearing your hearing aids and glasses if you take advantage of these tips.
Do hearing aids conflict with wearing glasses?
As both your ears and your eyes will often need a little assistance, it’s not uncommon for people to be worried that their eyeglasses and hearing aids could impair each other. That’s because both the placement of hearing aids and the size of eyeglasses have physical limitations. For many individuals, wearing them at the same time can result in discomfort.
There are a couple of main concerns:
- Skin irritation: All of those bits hanging off your face can also sometimes create skin irritation. Mostly this occurs because neither your hearing aid nor glasses are fitting correctly.
- Poor audio quality: It’s common for your audio quality to suffer when your glasses knock your hearing aids out of position.
- Pressure: Both eyeglasses and hearing aids need to mount to your face somehow; the ear is the mutual anchor. However, having both a hearing aid and a pair of eyeglasses wrap around your ears can produce a sense of pressure and pain. Your temples can also feel pain and pressure.
So can hearing aids be worn with glasses? Of course you can! It may seem like they’re contradictory, but behind-the-ear hearing aids can successfully be worn with glasses!
How to use glasses and hearing aids together
It may take a little bit of work, but whatever your style of hearing aid, it can work with your glasses. For the intention of this article, we’ll be discussing behind-the-ear style hearing aids. Inside-the-canal hearing aids are quite small and fit almost completely inside the ear so they aren’t really under consideration here. There’s normally absolutely no conflict between inside-the-canal hearing aids and glasses.
But with behind-the-ear hearings they…well, sit behind the ear. They’re attached by a wire to a speaker that goes in your ear canal. Each type of hearing aid has its own advantages and drawbacks, so you should talk to us about what type of hearing aid would be appropriate for your hearing needs.
If you wear your glasses every day all day, you might want to choose an inside-the-canal type of hearing aid; but this style of device won’t work for everyone. To be able to hear sufficiently, some people require a BTE style device; but don’t worry, there’s a way to make just about any hearing aid work with your glasses.
Adjust your glasses
In some cases, the type and style of glasses you wear will have a considerable effect on how comfortable your hearing aids are. If you wear large BTE devices, get some glasses that have thinner frames. In order to find a pair of glasses that will work well with your hearing aid, work with your optician.
And it’s also significant to be certain your glasses fit securely. They shouldn’t be too slack or too snug. The caliber of your hearing experience can be affected if your glasses are continuously jiggling around.
Using accessories is fine
So how can hearing aids and glasses aids be worn together? Well, If you’re having trouble dealing with both your glasses and hearing aids, don’t worry, you aren’t alone! This is a good thing because things can get a little bit easier by using some available devices. Here are a few of those devices:
- Retention bands: These bands go around the back of your glasses, and they help keep your glasses in place. These are a great idea if you’re a more active person.
- Anti-slip hooks: These hooks also help to keep your glasses from moving all around (and possibly taking your hearing aids at the same time). They work like a retention band but are less obvious.
- Specially designed devices: There are a wide variety of devices on the market designed specifically to make it easier to wear your hearing aids and glasses simultaneously. Devices include pieces of fabric that hold your hearing aids in place and glasses with hearing aids built right in.
The goal with all of these devices is to secure your hearing aids, hold your glasses in place, and keep you feeling comfortable.
Will your hearing aids have more feedback with glasses?
Some individuals who wear glasses with their hearing aids do document more feedback. It isn’t a really common complaint but it does happen. But it’s also feasible that something else, such as a speaker, is actually what’s triggering the feedback.
Still, you should definitely contact us if you think your glasses might be causing your hearing aids to feedback.
How to put on your hearing aids and glasses
If you make certain that your devices are properly worn you can prevent many of the problems linked to wearing glasses and hearing aids at the same time. You want them to fit well!
You can do that by utilizing these tips:
First put on your glasses. In terms of adjustment, your glasses are larger so they will have less wiggle room.
Then, carefully position your hearing aid shell between your outer ear and your glasses earpiece. The earpiece of your glasses should be up against your head.
After both are comfortably adjusted, you can put the microphone of the hearing aid inside of your ear.
That’s all there is to it! Having said that, you will still need some practice taking off your glasses and putting them back on without knocking your hearing aid out of position.
Keep up with both your glasses and your hearing aids
If either of your devices (hearing aids or glasses) isn’t well taken care of, the discord between the two can be amplified. Things break sometimes! But with some maintenance, those breakages can be avoided.
For your hearing aids:
- If you have a rechargeable hearing aid, keep the battery charged.
- Use a soft pick and a brush to eliminate earwax and debris.
- When you aren’t using your hearing aids, make sure to keep them somewhere clean and dry.
- At least once every week, clean your hearing aids.
For your glasses:
- When your glasses get dirty, clean them. Typically, this is at least once a day!
- Bring your glasses to your optician if they stop fitting properly.
- Keep your glasses in a case when you’re not wearing them. If you don’t have a case, just store them in a dry spot where they won’t be accidentally smashed or stepped on.
- Utilize a microfiber cloth to clean your glasses. Don’t use paper towels or even your shirt, as this may scratch your lenses.
Professional help is occasionally required
Hearing aids and glasses are both complex devices (even though they might not seem like it on the surface). This means that it’s crucial to speak with professionals who can help you find the best fit possible for both your hearing aids and your glasses.
Avoiding problems instead of trying to fix them later can be accomplished by getting the right help to start with.
Your glasses and hearing aids can get along with each other
If you haven’t already realized it, now it’s time to recognize that hearing aids and glasses don’t need to fight with each other. Sure, it can, at times, be a challenge if you require both of these devices. But we can help you choose the right hearing aid for your needs, so you can focus less on keeping your hearing aids in place and more on your quality of life.