You’ve likely noted that when movies or television shows get really intense, they start using close-ups (perhaps even extreme close-ups). 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 human beings are extremely facially focused.
So it’s no surprise that the face is where all of our principal sensors are, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. The face is cram packed (in an aesthetically excellent way, of course).
But when your face requires more than one assistive device, it can become a challenge. For instance, wearing glasses and hearing aids can become a little… awkward. It can be fairly challenging in some situations. These tips on how to wear hearing aids and glasses at the same time can help you manage those challenges, and get you ready for your (metaphorical) closeup!
Do hearing aids hinder wearing glasses?
As both your eyes and your ears will often require a bit of assistance, it’s common for people to be worried that their eyeglasses and hearing aids could impair each other. That’s because there are physical limitations on both the shape of eyeglasses and the positioning of hearing aids. Wearing them at the same time can be uncomfortable for some people.
There are a couple of principal challenges:
- Pressure: Somehow, both hearing aids and eyeglasses need to be attached to your face; the ear is the common anchor. However, having both a hearing aid and a pair of eyeglasses mounted on your ears can produce a sense of pressure and pain. Your temples can also feel pressure and pain.
- Poor audio quality: It’s not unheard of for your glasses to push your hearing aids out of position, resulting in less than ideal audio quality.
- Skin irritation: Skin irritation can also be the outcome of all those things hanging from your face. If neither your glasses nor your hearing aids are fitting correctly, this is especially true.
So, can you wear glasses with hearing aids? Definitely! Behind-the-ear hearing aids can be used with glasses successfully, though it might seem like they’re contradictory.
Wearing glasses and hearing aids together
It might take a little bit of work, but whatever your style of hearing aid, it can be compatible with your glasses. 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 totally in your ear. There’s usually 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 consult us about what kind of hearing aid would be best for your hearing needs.
If you wear your glasses every day all day, you may want to choose an inside-the-canal style of hearing aid; but this kind of device won’t be the best choice for everyone. Some people 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 may need some adjustment
In some cases, the type and style of glasses you wear will have a significant influence on how comfortable your hearing aids are. If you have large BTE devices, invest in glasses that have thinner frames. Seek advice from your optician to pick out a glasses style that will suit your hearing aids.
And it’s also important to be sure your glasses fit correctly. They shouldn’t be too loose or too tight. If your glasses are wiggling around all over the place, you could jeopardize your hearing aid results.
Don’t be afraid to use accessories
So how can you wear glasses and hearing aids at the same time? Well, If you’re having difficulty managing both your glasses and hearing aids, don’t worry, you aren’t the only one! This is good news because it means that there are devices you can use to make things just a little bit easier. Here are a few of those devices:
- Anti-slip hooks: If your glasses are moving all over, they can knock your hearing aid out of position and these devices help prevent that. They’re a little more subtle than a retention band.
- Specially designed devices: Using your hearing aids and glasses simultaneously will be much easier if you take advantage of the wide variety of devices on the market designed to do just that. Devices include pieces of fabric that hold your hearing aids in place and glasses with built-in hearing aids.
- 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.
These devices are created to keep you more comfortable by holding your glasses in position and securing your hearing aids.
Will your hearing aids have more feedback with glasses?
There are certainly some accounts out there that glasses might cause feedback with your hearing aids. And it does occur, but it’s not the most prevalent complaint. But it’s also possible that something else, like a speaker, is actually what’s causing the feedback.
Still, you should certainly consult 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 issues related to wearing glasses and hearing aids at the same time. You want them to fit well!
Here’s how you can accomplish doing that:
Put your glasses in place first. After all, your glasses are pretty stiff and they’re larger, this means they have less wiggle room with regards to 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.
After both are comfortably adjusted, you can put the microphone of the hearing aid inside of your ear.
And that’s it! That being said, you will still need some practice removing your glasses and putting them back on without bumping your hearing aid out of place.
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 conflict between the two can be increased. Sometimes, things break! But those breakages can frequently be prevented with a little maintenance and routine care.
For your hearing aids:
- Utilize a soft pick and a brush to eliminate earwax and debris.
- Be sure to recharge your battery when necessary (if your hearing aid is rechargeable).
- When you’re not using your hearing aids, be certain to keep them somewhere clean and dry.
- Make sure to clean your hearing aids at least once a week.
For your glasses:
- When your glasses get dirty, clean them. At least once every day is the best plan.
- To clean your glasses, make use of a soft, microfiber cloth. Your lenses could easily become scratched by a paper towel or your shirt, so don’t use them.
- If your glasses stop fitting properly, take them to your optician for an adjustment.
- Store your glasses in a case when you’re not using them. Or, you can keep them in a safe dry spot if you don’t have a case.
Occasionally you need professional assistance
Hearing aids and glasses are both specialized devices (although they may not seem like it at first glance). So determining the best fit for your hearing aids and your glasses will typically call for a professional’s help.
The more help you get up front, the less help you will need later on (this is because you’ll be preventing problems rather than trying 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 need 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.
