TV shows and movies tend to use close-ups (sometimes extreme close-ups) when the action starts getting really intense. That’s because the human face communicates lots of information (more information than you’re likely consciously aware of). To say that human beings are very facially centered is, well, not a stretch.
So it’s not surprising that the face is where all of our principal sensors are, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. 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 a challenge. It can become a bit cumbersome when you wear a hearing aid and wear glasses at the same time, for example. It can be rather difficult in some situations. These tips on how to wear hearing aids and glasses at the same time can help you manage those challenges, and prepare you for your (metaphorical) closeup!
Are glasses interfered with by hearing aids?
As both your eyes and your ears will often need a little assistance, it’s not uncommon for people to be worried that their eyeglasses and hearing aids might hinder each other. That’s because both the placement of hearing aids and the size of eyeglasses have physical limitations. Wearing them simultaneously can be uncomfortable for some individuals.
There are a couple of principal concerns:
- Poor audio quality: It isn’t unusual for your glasses to knock your hearing aids out of position, leading to less than ideal audio quality.
- Skin irritation: All of those pieces hanging from your face can also sometimes create skin irritation. Mostly this happens because neither your hearing aid nor glasses are fitting correctly.
- Pressure: Both eyeglasses and hearing aids need to affix to your face somehow; the ear is the common anchor. But when your ears have to hang 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.
So can hearing aids be used with glasses? Definitely! Behind-the-ear hearing aids can be worn with glasses successfully, though it may seem like they’re contradictory.
How to wear glasses and hearing aids together
It might take a little work, but whatever your style of hearing aid, it can be compatible with your glasses. In general, only the behind-the-ear style of hearing aid is significant to this discussion. This is because inside-the-canal hearing aids are a lot smaller and fit entirely in your ear. In-ear-canal hearing aids virtually never have a negative relationship with 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. You should talk to us about what type of hearing aid will be best for your requirements (they each have their own advantages and disadvantages).
If you use your glasses every day all day, you might want to choose an inside-the-canal style of hearing aid; but this style of device won’t be the best choice for everyone. Some individuals will require a BTE style device in order to hear sufficiently, but even if that’s the case they can still make it work with glasses.
Your glasses might require some adjustment
The level of comfort you get from your hearing aid will considerably depend on the style and type of glasses you have. You will want to invest in glasses with thinner frames if you wear a large BTE hearing aid. In order to find a pair of glasses that will work well with your hearing aid, seek advice from your optician.
Your glasses will also need to fit properly. They shouldn’t be too slack or too snug. If your glasses are jiggling around all over the place, you could jeopardize your hearing aid results.
Don’t be afraid to use accessories
So how can glasses and hearing aids be worn together? Well, If you’re having problems managing 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 bit easier. Here are a few of those devices:
- 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 built-in hearing aids are an example of one of these kinds of devices.
- Anti-slip hooks: These hooks also help to prevent your glasses from sliding all around (and possibly moving your hearing aids with them). They’re a little more subtle than a retention band.
- Retention bands: You attach these bands to your glasses to help them stay in place. If you’re a more active individual, these are a good idea.
The objective with all of these devices is to secure your hearing aids, hold your glasses in place, and keep you feeling comfortable.
Can glasses produce hearing aid feedback?
Some individuals who wear glasses with their hearing aids do document more feedback. And it does happen, but it’s not the most common complaint. In some cases, the feedback you experience might be triggered by something else (such as a television speaker or mobile phone speaker).
Still, you should definitely consult us if you think your glasses might be causing your hearing aids to feedback.
The best way to wear your hearing aids and glasses
Many of the problems connected to wearing hearing aids and glasses together can be prevented by making sure that all of your devices are being properly worn. Having them fit right is the key!
Here’s how you can start doing that:
Put your glasses in place first. After all, your glasses are pretty stiff and they’re bigger, this means they have less wiggle room in terms of adjustments.
Once you have your glasses in place, place the shell of your hearing aid between the earpiece of your glasses and your outer ear. Your glasses should be closest to your head.
Adjust both as necessary to be comfortable, then put the hearing aid microphone inside your ear canal.
And that’s it! Having said that, you will still need some practice taking off your glasses and putting them back on without bumping your hearing aid out of place.
Maintain both your glasses and your hearing aids
Sometimes, friction between your hearing aids and your glasses happens because the devices aren’t functioning as designed. Things break sometimes! But those breakages can often be prevented with a little maintenance and routine care.
For your hearing aids:
- The right tools (a soft pick and a brush) should be utilized to eliminate debris and earwax.
- At least once a week, clean your hearing aids.
- If you have a rechargeable hearing aid, keep the battery charged.
- Store your hearing aids in a cool, dry spot when you’re not using them.
For your glasses:
- Bring 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 keep them in a dry spot where they won’t be inadvertently broken or stepped on.
- Use a microfiber cloth to clean your glasses. Don’t use paper towels or even your shirt, as this may scratch your lenses.
- Clean your glasses when they get dirty. At least once every day is the best plan.
Sometimes you need professional help
Hearing aids and glasses are both specialized devices (even though they may not seem like it on the surface). So determining the best fit for your hearing aids and your glasses will usually require a professional’s help.
The more help you get in advance, the less help you will need later on (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 create some challenges. You will be able to be more focused on enjoying your life and less on keeping your hearing aid in place with our help.
