You’ve probably noticed that when movies or TV shows get really intense, they start using close-ups (possibly even extreme close-ups). This is because more information than you’re probably even consciously aware of is communicated by the human face. To say that human beings are really facially focused is, well, not a stretch.
So having all of your main human sensors, nose, eyes, ears, and mouth, on the face is not surprising. The face is jam packed (in a visually excellent way, of course).
But this can become an issue when you need numerous assistive devices. It can become a bit cumbersome when you use a hearing aid and wear glasses simultaneously, for example. In some cases, you may even have challenges. You will have a simpler time wearing your hearing aids and glasses if you make use of these tips.
Do hearing aids conflict with wearing glasses?
As both your eyes and your ears will frequently need a little 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 positioning of hearing aids and the size of eyeglasses have physical constraints. For many people, wearing them at the same time can cause discomfort.
A few primary concerns can come about:
- Skin irritation: Skin irritation can also be the outcome of all those things hanging off your face. Mostly this occurs because neither your hearing aid nor glasses are fitting correctly.
- Pressure: Somehow, both hearing aids and eyeglasses need to be affixed to your face; the ear is the mutual anchor. However, having both a hearing aid and a pair of eyeglasses wrap around your ears can create a sense of pressure and pain. Your temples can also feel pressure and pain.
- Poor audio quality: It’s common for your audio quality to suffer when your glasses push your hearing aids out of position.
So, can you wear glasses with hearing aids? Definitely! Behind-the-ear hearing aids can be used with glasses effectively, though it might seem like they’re contradictory.
Wearing hearing aids and glasses together
Every style of hearing aid will be compatible with your glasses, it’s just a question of how much work you will need to do. For the purpose of this article, we’ll be discussing behind-the-ear style hearing aids. Inside-the-canal hearing aids are really small and fit almost entirely inside the ear so they aren’t really relevant here. There’s usually absolutely no clash between inside-the-canal hearing aids and glasses.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids, however, sit behind your ear. The electronics that go behind your ears connect to a wire leading to a speaker that’s positioned inside the ear canal. You should talk to us about what type of hearing aid is best for your needs (they each have their own advantages and drawbacks).
If you use your glasses every day all day, you may want to opt for an inside-the-canal style of hearing aid; but this style of device won’t work for everyone. Some individuals will require a BTE style device in order to hear sufficiently, but even if that’s the case they will be able to make it work with glasses.
Your glasses might require some adjustment
The degree of comfort you get from your hearing aid will greatly depend on the style and type of glasses you have. You will want to invest in glasses that have slimmer frames if you use a large BTE hearing aid. Work with your optician to pick out a glasses style that will suit your hearing aids.
Your glasses will also need to fit properly. You want them tight (but not too tight) and you want to make certain they aren’t too loose. If your glasses are jiggling around all over the place, you could jeopardize your hearing aid results.
Don’t avoid using accessories
So how can glasses and hearing aids be worn with each other? There are a lot of other individuals who are dealing with difficulties managing hearing aids with glasses, so you’re not alone. This is good news because it means that you can use it to make things a bit easier. Some of those devices include:
- Anti-slip hooks: If your glasses are moving all over, they can push your hearing aid out of place and these devices help stop that. They’re a little more subtle than a retention band.
- 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 together. Devices include pieces of cloth that hold your hearing aids in place 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 great idea if you’re a more active person.
These devices are designed to keep you more comfortable by holding your glasses in place and securing your hearing aids.
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. In some cases, the feedback you experience could be triggered by something else (such as a tv speaker or mobile phone speaker).
Still, if you’re noticing hearing aid feedback and interference and you think your glasses are the problem, consult us about possible solutions.
How to wear your hearing aids and glasses
If you make sure that your devices are properly worn you can prevent many of the issues associated with using glasses and hearing aids at the same time. You want them to fit well!
Here’s how you can accomplish doing that:
First put on your glasses. After all, your glasses are fairly rigid and they’re bigger, this means they have less wiggle room when it comes to adjustments.
Once you have your glasses in position, position the shell of your hearing aid between the earpiece of your glasses and your outer ear. The earpiece of your glasses should be against 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 position.
Maintain both your glasses and your hearing aids
If either of your devices (hearing aids or glasses) isn’t well maintained, the conflict between the two can be increased. Sometimes, things break! But with a little maintenance, those breakages can be prevented.
For your hearing aids:
- At least once a week, clean your hearing aids.
- When you aren’t using your hearing aids, make sure to keep them somewhere dry and clean.
- The right tools (a soft pick and a brush) should be used to eliminate earwax and debris.
- If you have a rechargeable hearing aid, keep the battery charged.
For your glasses:
- If your glasses stop fitting properly, take them to your optician for an adjustment.
- When you aren’t using, keep in a case. Or, you can store them in a safe dry spot if you don’t have a case.
- To clean your glasses, make use of a soft, microfiber cloth. Your lenses could easily be scratched by a paper towel or your shirt, so don’t use them.
- Clean your glasses when they become dirty. Typically, this is at least once every day!
Occasionally you need professional help
Hearing aids and glasses are both specialized devices (although they might not seem like it on the surface). So determining the best fit for your hearing aids and your glasses will normally call for a professional’s help.
Preventing issues rather than attempting to fix them later can be accomplished by getting the right help in the beginning.
Your glasses and hearing aids can get along with one another
Like one of those family feuds that’s been going on too long (with plenty of close-ups, obviously), it’s now time to accept that glasses and hearing aids don’t need to be enemies. Sure, it can, at times, be challenging if you need both of these devices. But we can help you select 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.
