You’ve probably noticed 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 conveyed by the human face. To say that humans are very 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 jammed with aesthetically pleasing attributes.
But this can become problematic when you need numerous assistive devices. It can become a bit cumbersome when you use a hearing aid and wear glasses at the same time, for instance. It can be rather 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!
Are glasses interfered with by hearing aids?
As both your ears and your eyes will frequently require a little assistance, it’s common for people to have a concern that their eyeglasses and hearing aids might impede each other. That’s because both the positioning of hearing aids and the size of eyeglasses have physical constraints. Using them simultaneously can be uncomfortable for some individuals.
A few primary challenges can arise:
- Skin irritation: All of those parts hanging from your face can also sometimes cause skin irritation. If neither your glasses nor your hearing aids are fitting correctly, this is especially true.
- Poor audio quality: It’s common for your audio quality to diminish when your glasses push your hearing aids out of position.
- Pressure: Somehow, both hearing aids and eyeglasses need to be attached to your face; often, they use the ear as a good anchor. However, having both a hearing aid and a pair of eyeglasses mounted on your ears can cause a sense of pain and pressure. Your temples can also feel pressure and pain.
So, can you use glasses with hearing aids? Definitely! Behind-the-ear hearing aids can be used with glasses successfully, though it might seem like they’re contradictory.
Using hearing aids and glasses together
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 objective of this article, we’ll be discussing behind-the-ear style hearing aids. Inside-the-canal hearing aids are really small and fit almost completely inside the ear so they aren’t really relevant here. There’s usually absolutely no conflict between inside-the-canal hearing aids and glasses.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids, though, 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. Each kind of hearing aid has its own advantages and weaknesses, so you should speak with us about what type of hearing aid would be appropriate for your hearing needs.
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 kind of device won’t work for everyone. Some individuals will need a BTE style device in order to hear adequately, 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 effect on how comfortable your hearing aids are. You will want to get yourself some glasses that have slimmer frames if you use a large BTE hearing aid. In order to find a pair of glasses that will work well with your hearing aid, work with 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.
Using accessories is fine
So how can you use glasses and hearing aids simultaneously? There are lots of other people who are dealing with difficulties managing hearing aids with glasses, so you’re not by yourself. This is good news because it means that you can use it to make things a little bit easier. Some of those devices include:
- Anti-slip hooks: If your glasses are moving all around, they can knock your hearing aid out of place and these devices help prevent that. They’re a little more subtle than a retention band.
- Retention bands: You put these bands on your glasses to help keep them in place. If you’re a more active individual, these are a practical idea.
- 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. Glasses with hearing aids built right in are an example of one of these devices.
The goal with all of these devices is to secure your hearing aids, keep your glasses in position, and keep you feeling comfortable.
Can glasses produce hearing aid feedback?
Some people who wear glasses with their hearing aids do document more feedback. And it does happen, but it’s not the most common complaint. But it’s also possible that something else, like a speaker, is actually what’s causing the feedback.
Still, you should definitely contact us if you think your glasses might 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 using glasses and hearing aids together. You want them to fit right!
Here’s how you can accomplish doing that:
Put your glasses in place first. After all, your glasses are pretty rigid and they’re bigger, this means they have less wiggle room in terms of adjustments.
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.
Adjust both as needed to be comfortable, then place the hearing aid microphone inside your ear canal.
That’s all there is to it! Kind of, there’s certainly a learning curve in terms of putting on and taking off your glasses without bumping your hearing aid out of position.
Keep up with both your glasses and your hearing aids
Sometimes, friction between your hearing aids and your glasses occurs because the devices aren’t working as designed. Things break sometimes! But those breakages can often be prevented with a little maintenance and routine care.
For your hearing aids:
- Make sure to recharge your battery when needed (if your hearing aid is rechargeable).
- The correct tools (a soft pick and a brush) should be used to eliminate earwax and debris.
- At least once every week, clean your hearing aids.
- Keep your hearing aids in a cool, dry place when you aren’t using them.
For your glasses:
- To clean your glasses, use a soft, microfiber cloth. Do not use paper towels or even your shirt, as this may scratch your lenses.
- When your glasses get dirty, clean them. At least once a day is the best plan.
- When you aren’t using, store in a case. Or, you can keep them in a safe dry spot if you don’t have a case.
- Take your glasses to your optician if they stop fitting properly.
Professional help is sometimes needed
Hearing aids and glasses are both complex devices (even though they may not seem like it on the surface). This means that it’s important to speak with professionals who can help you find the best fit possible for both your hearing aids and your glasses.
Avoiding issues instead of trying to fix them later can be accomplished by getting the right help to start with.
Your glasses and hearing aids can get along with each other
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. Yes, needing both of these devices can create some challenges. But we can help you choose the best 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.