TV shows and movies tend to use close-ups (at times extreme close-ups) when the action begins getting really intense. That’s because the human face conveys a lot of information (more information than you’re probably consciously aware of). It’s no stretch to say that human beings are extremely facially focused.
So it’s not surprising that the face is where all of our principal sensors are, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. The face is packed with aesthetically pleasant qualities.
But when your face requires more than one assistive device, it can become an issue. It can become a bit awkward when you wear a hearing aid and wear glasses simultaneously, for instance. In some instances, you might even have difficulties. You will have a simpler time wearing your hearing aids and glasses if you take advantage of these tips.
Are glasses interfered with by hearing aids?
As both your ears and your eyes will frequently need a bit of assistance, it’s common for people to have a concern 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 together can be uncomfortable for some people.
A few basic challenges can arise:
- Skin irritation: Skin irritation can also be the result of all those things hanging from your face. If neither your glasses nor your hearing aids are fitting properly, this is especially true.
- Pressure: Both eyeglasses and hearing aids need to affix to your face somehow; frequently, 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 pressure and pain. Your temples can also feel pain and pressure.
- Poor audio quality: It’s not unusual for your glasses to knock your hearing aids out of position, resulting in less than perfect audio quality.
So can hearing aids be worn with glasses? Of course you can! It may seem like they’re contradictory, but behind-the-ear hearing aids can successfully be worn with glasses!
How to wear hearing aids and glasses at the same time
It may take a little work, but whatever your type of hearing aid, it can be compatible with your glasses. For the objective of this article, we’ll be talking about behind-the-ear style hearing aids. Inside-the-canal hearing aids are quite small and fit nearly completely inside the ear so they aren’t really relevant here. There’s normally 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 sit behind your ears connect to a wire leading to a speaker that’s positioned inside the ear canal. Each type of hearing aid has its own advantages and weaknesses, so you should speak with us about what type of hearing aid would be best for your hearing needs.
An inside-the-canal hearing aid won’t be the best option for everyone but if you use your glasses all day, they’re something you might want to think about. Some individuals 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
The level of comfort you get from your hearing aid will considerably depend on the style and type of glasses you wear. You will want to get yourself some glasses with slimmer frames if you wear a large BTE hearing aid. In order to obtain a pair of glasses that will work well with your hearing aid, work with your optician.
And it’s also important to make sure your glasses fit correctly. They shouldn’t be too loose or too snug. If your glasses are jiggling around all over the place, you may compromise your hearing aid results.
Using accessories is fine
So how can glasses and hearing aids be worn together? There are lots of other individuals who are coping with difficulties handling hearing aids with glasses, so you’re not by yourself. This is a good thing because things can get a little bit easier by utilizing some available devices. Here are a few of those devices:
- Specially designed devices: Wearing your hearing aids and glasses simultaneously will be a lot easier if you make use of the wide range of devices on the market created to do just that. Devices include pieces of cloth that hold your hearing aids in place and glasses with built-in hearing aids.
- 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 bit 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 person, 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.
Will your hearing aids have more feedback if you’re wearing glasses?
Some people who use glasses with their hearing aids do document more feedback. And it does occur, but it’s not the most common complaint. In some circumstances, the feedback you experience could be triggered by something else (such as a tv 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 use your hearing aids and glasses
If you make sure that your devices are properly worn you can avoid many of the problems related to wearing glasses and hearing aids together. Having them fit well is the key!
Here’s how you can accomplish doing that:
First put your glasses on. When it comes to adjustment, your glasses are bigger so they will have less wiggle room.
Once you have your glasses in place, place the shell of your hearing aid between your glasses earpiece and your outer ear. The earpiece of your glasses should be against your head.
Adjust both as needed in order to be comfortable, then put the hearing aid microphone in your ear canal.
That’s all there is to 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 position.
Take good care of your hearing aids (and your glasses)
Sometimes, friction between your glasses and hearing aids occurs because the devices aren’t functioning as designed. Things break sometimes! But those breakages can often be prevented with a bit of maintenance and routine care.
For your hearing aids:
- Keep your hearing aids in a cool, dry spot when you’re not wearing them.
- Make sure to recharge your battery when necessary (if your hearing aid is rechargeable).
- The right tools (a soft pick and a brush) should be utilized to remove earwax and debris.
- At least once a week, clean your hearing aids.
For your glasses:
- When your glasses are dirty, clean them. Normally, this is at least once a day!
- Utilize a microfiber cloth to clean your glasses. Don’t use paper towels or even your shirt, as this could scratch your lenses.
- Store your glasses in a case when you’re not using them. Or, you can keep them in a safe dry place if you don’t have a case.
- If your glasses stop fitting well, take them to your optician for an adjustment.
Professional assistance is sometimes needed
Though it might not initially seem like it, both hearing aids and glasses a complex pieces of technology. So finding the best fit for your hearing aids and your glasses will normally require a professional’s help.
The more help you get in advance, the less help you will need down the road (this is because you’ll be avoiding problems rather than trying to fix those problems).
Hearing aids and glasses don’t need to fight
If you haven’t already realized it, now it’s time to accept that hearing aids and glasses don’t need 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 select the right 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.