TV shows and movies tend to use close-ups (at times extreme close-ups) when the action starts getting really intense. This is because more information than you’re likely even consciously aware of is communicated by the human face. It’s no stretch to say that humans are extremely facially focused.
So it’s not surprising that the face is where all of our main sensors are, eyes, ears, and mouth, nose. The face is cram packed (in an aesthetically wonderful way, of course).
But when your face needs more than one assistive device, it can become a challenge. For example, wearing glasses and hearing aids can become a bit… awkward. In some cases, you might even have challenges. You will have an easier time wearing your hearing aids and glasses if you make use of these tips.
Do hearing aids hinder wearing glasses?
As both your ears and your eyes will often require a bit of assistance, it’s not uncommon for people to have a concern that their eyeglasses and hearing aids may impair each other. That’s because there are physical constraints on both the shape of eyeglasses and the placement of hearing aids. Using them simultaneously can be uncomfortable for some people.
A few basic challenges can arise:
- Pressure: Somehow, both hearing aids and eyeglasses need to be attached to your face; the ear is the mutual anchor. But when your ears have to hold on to both eyeglasses and hearing aids, a sense of pressure and sometimes even pain can be the outcome. This can also develop strain and pressure around the temples.
- Skin irritation: All of those pieces hanging off your face can also sometimes produce skin irritation. Mostly this happens because neither your hearing aid nor glasses are fitting properly.
- Poor audio quality: It isn’t unheard of for your glasses to push your hearing aids out of position, giving you less than perfect audio quality.
So can hearing aids be used with glasses? Of course you can! It may seem like they’re contradictory, but behind-the-ear hearing aids can effectively be worn with glasses!
How to use glasses and hearing aids at the same time
Every style of hearing aid will be appropriate with your glasses, it’s just a matter of how much work you will need to do. For the intention of this article, we’ll be talking about behind-the-ear style hearing aids. This is because inside-the-canal hearing aids are far smaller and fit completely in your ear. In-ear-canal hearing aids virtually never have a negative relationship with glasses.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids, though, sit behind your ear. They’re attached by a wire to a speaker that sits in your ear canal. You should speak with us about what type of hearing aid will be best for your requirements (they each have their own benefits and disadvantages).
If you wear your glasses every day all day, you might want to opt for an inside-the-canal style of hearing aid; but this style of device won’t be the best choice for everybody. Some individuals will require a BTE style device in order to hear adequately, but even if that’s the case they will be able to make it work with glasses.
Your glasses might need some adjustment
The level of comfort you get from your hearing aid will considerably depend on the style and type of glasses you wear. If you have large BTE devices, invest in glasses that have slimmer frames. In order to obtain a pair of glasses that will work well with your hearing aid, work with your optician.
And it’s also important to be certain your glasses fit properly. They shouldn’t be too slack or too tight. The caliber of your hearing experience can be compromised if your glasses are constantly jiggling around.
Using accessories is okay
So how can glasses and hearing aids be worn with each other? Well, If you’re having difficulty dealing with both your glasses and hearing aids, take heart, you aren’t alone! This is good news because it means that there are devices you can use to make things a little bit easier. Some of those devices include:
- Anti-slip hooks: If your glasses are moving all around, they can push your hearing aid out of place and these devices help counter that. They’re a little more subtle than a retention band.
- Specially designed devices: Wearing your hearing aids and glasses simultaneously will be a lot easier if you take advantage of the wide range of devices available created to do just that. Glasses with hearing aids built right in are an example of one of these kinds of devices.
- Retention bands: You attach these bands to your glasses to help them stay in place. These are a great idea if you’re a more active person.
The goal with all of these devices is to secure your hearing aids, hold your glasses in place, and keep you feeling comfortable.
Can glasses trigger hearing aid feedback?
Some individuals who use glasses with their hearing aids do document more feedback. It’s not a very common complaint but it does happen. In some circumstances, the feedback you experience could be caused by something else (such as a tv speaker or mobile phone speaker).
Still, you should definitely contact us if you think your glasses may be causing your hearing aids to feedback.
How to wear your hearing aids and glasses
If you make certain that your devices are worn properly you can avoid many of the issues linked to wearing glasses and hearing aids together. Having them fit well is the key!
You can do that by utilizing these tips:
Put your glasses in place first. When it comes to adjustment, your glasses are bigger so they will have less wiggle room.
Then, gently position your hearing aid shell between your outer ear and the earpiece of your glasses. Your glasses should be closest to your head.
Adjust both as necessary to be comfortable, then put the hearing aid microphone in your ear canal.
And that’s it! That being said, you will still need some practice taking off your glasses and putting them back on without bumping your hearing aid out of position.
Maintain both your glasses and your hearing aids
In some cases, friction between your glasses and hearing aids happens because the devices aren’t functioning as intended. Things break sometimes! But those breakages can often be prevented with a bit of maintenance and routine care.
For your hearing aids:
- Make certain to clean your hearing aids at least once a week.
- Use a soft pick and a brush to eliminate debris and ear wax.
- Keep your hearing aids in a cool, dry place when you aren’t using them.
- If you have a rechargeable hearing aid, keep the battery charged.
For your glasses:
- Utilize a microfiber cloth to clean your glasses. Your lenses could easily be scratched by a paper towel or your shirt, so don’t use them.
- Take your glasses to your optician if they stop fitting properly.
- When you’re not using, keep in a case. If you don’t have a case, just store them in a dry spot where they won’t be inadvertently smashed or stepped on.
- Clean your glasses when they become dirty. Typically, this is at least once every day!
Professional help is sometimes needed
Hearing aids and glasses are both complex devices (even though they might not seem like it on the surface). So determining the best fit for your hearing aids and your glasses will normally require a professional’s help.
The more help you get in advance, the less help you will need down the road (this is because you’ll be avoiding problems rather than attempting to address those problems).
Hearing aids and glasses don’t need to fight
If you haven’t already realized it, now it’s time to recognize that hearing aids and glasses don’t have to fight with each other. Yes, needing both of these devices can cause some obstacles. 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 enjoying time with your family.