Movies and TV shows tend to utilize close-ups (sometimes extreme close-ups) when the action begins getting really intense. This is because more information than you’re likely even consciously aware of is communicated by the human face. To say that human beings are very facially centered is, well, not a stretch.
So having all of your primary human sensors, nose, eyes, ears, and mouth, on the face is no surprise. The face is cram packed (in a visually excellent way, of course).
But when your face requires more than one assistive device, it can become a challenge. It can become a little cumbersome when you use a hearing aid and wear glasses simultaneously, for example. In some cases, you may even have challenges. These tips on how to use hearing aids and glasses simultaneously can help you handle those challenges, and get you ready for your (metaphorical) closeup!
Are glasses interfered with by hearing aids?
As both your ears and your eyes will often need a bit of assistance, it’s common for people to have a concern that their eyeglasses and hearing aids may impair each other. That’s because both the placement of hearing aids and the size of eyeglasses have physical limitations. For many people, using them at the same time can cause discomfort.
There are a couple of main concerns:
- Skin irritation: All of those bits hanging off your face can also sometimes cause skin irritation. Mostly this happens because neither your hearing aid nor glasses are fitting properly.
- Poor audio quality: It’s not unheard of for your glasses to knock your hearing aids out of position, leading to less than perfect audio quality.
- Pressure: Somehow, both hearing aids and eyeglasses need to be attached to your face; usually, they use the ear as an effective anchor. But when your ears have to hang on to both eyeglasses and hearing aids, a sense of pressure and sometimes even pain can result. This can also develop strain and pressure around the temples.
So, can you wear glasses with hearing aids? Definitely! It might seem like they’re contradictory, but behind-the-ear hearing aids can effectively be worn with glasses!
How to use hearing aids and glasses at the same time
Every style of hearing aid will be appropriate with your glasses, it’s just a question of how much work it will take. 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 nearly entirely inside the ear so they aren’t really under consideration here. There’s usually absolutely no clash between inside-the-canal hearing aids and glasses.
But with behind-the-ear hearings they…well, sit behind the ear. The electronics that go behind your ears connect to a wire that goes to a speaker that’s positioned inside the ear canal. Each kind of hearing aid has its own advantages and drawbacks, so you should speak with us about what type of hearing aid would be best for your hearing needs.
If you wear your glasses every day all day, you might want to opt for an inside-the-canal type of hearing aid; but this style of device won’t work for everyone. Some people will require a BTE style device in order to hear sufficiently, but even if that’s the situation they will be able to make it work with glasses.
Adjust your glasses
In some instances, the type and style of glasses you wear will have a significant impact on how comfortable your hearing aids are. You will want to get yourself some glasses with thinner frames if you wear a large BTE hearing aid. Work with your optician to select a glasses style that will accommodate your hearing aids.
Your glasses will also need to fit properly. You want them tight (but not too tight) and you want to make sure they aren’t too slack. The quality of your hearing experience can be affected if your glasses are continually jiggling around.
Don’t avoid using accessories
So how can glasses and hearing aids be worn together? Well, If you’re having problems handling 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 just a little bit easier. Here are a few of those devices:
- Anti-slip hooks: If your glasses are moving all over, they can push your hearing aid out of place and these devices help prevent that. They’re a little more subtle than a retention band.
- Specially designed devices: There are a wide range of devices on the market designed specifically to make it easier to use your hearing aids and glasses simultaneously. Devices include pieces of cloth that hold your hearing aids in position and glasses with hearing aids built right in.
- Retention bands: These bands go around the back of your glasses, and they help your glasses stay in place. These are a good idea if you’re on the more active side.
These devices are made to keep you more comfortable by holding your glasses in position and securing your hearing aids.
Can glasses cause hearing aid feedback?
There are definitely some reports out there that glasses may cause feedback with your hearing aids. And it does occur, but it’s not the most prevalent complaint. In some instances, the feedback you experience may be triggered by something else (like a television speaker or mobile phone speaker).
Still, you should definitely contact us if you think your glasses may be causing your hearing aids to feedback.
The best way to use your hearing aids and glasses
Many of the challenges related to wearing hearing aids and glasses together can be prevented by making sure that all of your devices are being properly worn. You want them to fit well!
Here’s how you can go about doing that:
Put your glasses put first. When it comes to adjustment, your glasses are bigger so they will have less wiggle room.
Then, gently place your hearing aid shell between your outer ear and the earpiece of your glasses. Your glasses should be closest to your head.
After both are comfortably set up, you can place the microphone of the hearing aid inside of your ear.
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 place.
Take care of your hearing aids (and your glasses)
If either of your devices (hearing aids or glasses) isn’t well maintained, the discord between the two can be increased. Sometimes, things break! But with a little maintenance, those breakages can be avoided.
For your hearing aids:
- The correct tools (a soft pick and a brush) should be utilized to remove earwax and debris.
- Make sure to recharge your battery when needed (if your hearing aid is rechargeable).
- When you aren’t using your hearing aids, make sure to keep them somewhere dry and clean.
- At least once every week, clean your hearing aids.
For your glasses:
- Take your glasses to your optician if they stop fitting properly.
- Clean your glasses when they become dirty. Usually, this is at least once every day!
- Utilize a microfiber cloth to clean your glasses. Do not use paper towels or even your shirt, as this might scratch your lenses.
- Store your glasses in a case when you’re not wearing them. Or, you can keep them in a safe dry spot if you don’t have a case.
Sometimes you need professional assistance
Though it might not initially seem like it, both hearing aids and glasses a specialized pieces of technology. This means that it’s crucial to speak with professionals who can help you determine the best fit possible for both your hearing aids and your glasses.
The more help you get in advance, the less help you will need down the road (this is because you’ll be preventing problems rather than attempting to fix those problems).
Your glasses and hearing aids can get along with one another
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. 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.