Movies and TV shows tend to utilize close-ups (often extreme close-ups) when the action begins getting really intense. That’s because the human face communicates a lot of information (more information than you’re likely consciously aware of). It’s no stretch to say that human beings are extremely facially focused.
So having all of your chief human sensors, nose, eyes, ears, and mouth, on the face is not surprising. The face is jammed with aesthetically pleasing qualities.
But this can become problematic when you need multiple assistive devices. It can become a little cumbersome when you wear a hearing aid and wear glasses simultaneously, for example. In some instances, you might even have challenges. You will have an easier time using your hearing aids and glasses if you take advantage of these tips.
Do hearing aids hinder wearing glasses?
It’s not uncommon for people to worry that their hearing aids and glasses might interfere with each other since both eyes and ears will require assistance for many people. That’s because there are physical constraints on both the shape of eyeglasses and the placement of hearing aids. For many individuals, using them together can result in discomfort.
There are a couple of main challenges:
- Poor audio quality: It’s not unusual for your glasses to push your hearing aids out of position, resulting in less than perfect audio quality.
- Pressure: Both eyeglasses and hearing aids need to mount to your face somehow; 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 create strain and pressure around the temples.
- 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 particularly true.
So can hearing aids be worn with glasses? Definitely! Behind-the-ear hearing aids can be used with glasses successfully, though it may seem like they’re contradictory.
How to use glasses and hearing aids 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 intention of this article, we’ll be talking about behind-the-ear style hearing aids. Inside-the-canal hearing aids are very small and fit nearly completely inside the ear so they aren’t really relevant here. In-ear-canal hearing aids almost never have a negative relationship with glasses.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids, however, sit behind your ear. They’re connected by a wire to a speaker that goes in your ear canal. You should speak with us about what kind of hearing aid will be best for your requirements (they each have their own advantages and drawbacks).
If you wear your glasses every day all day, you might want to go with an inside-the-canal style of hearing aid; but this kind of device won’t be the best choice for everybody. To be able to hear sufficiently, some people need a BTE style device; but don’t worry, you can make just about any type of hearing aid work with your glasses.
Adjust your glasses
In some cases, the type and style of glasses you have will have a significant influence on how comfortable your hearing aids are. If you use large BTE devices, get some glasses that have slimmer frames. In order to obtain a pair of glasses that will work well with your hearing aid, work with your optician.
Your glasses will also need to fit correctly. You want them snug (but not too tight) and you want to make sure they aren’t too loose. The quality of your hearing experience can be compromised if your glasses are continually wiggling around.
Using accessories is fine
So how can hearing aids and glasses aids be worn together? There are a lot of other individuals who are dealing with difficulties managing hearing aids with glasses, so you’re not alone. This is a good thing because things can get a little bit easier by using some available devices. Here are a few of those devices:
- Retention bands: You put these bands on your glasses to help keep them in place. These are a great idea if you’re on the more active side.
- Anti-slip hooks: These hooks also help to keep your glasses from sliding all over the place (and possibly taking your hearing aids with them). They function like a retention band but are less obvious.
- Specially designed devices: There are a wide range of devices on the market created specifically to make it easier to wear your hearing aids and glasses simultaneously. Glasses with built-in hearing aids are an example of one of these kinds of devices.
These devices are created to keep you more comfortable by holding your glasses in place and securing your hearing aids.
Will your hearing aids have more feedback if you’re wearing glasses?
Some people who wear glasses with their hearing aids do report more feedback. It isn’t a really common complaint but it does happen. But it’s also possible that something else, such as 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.
The best way to wear your hearing aids and glasses
Many of the challenges connected to wearing hearing aids and glasses at the same time can be prevented by making sure that all of your devices are being properly worn. Having them fit right is the key!
Here’s how you can start doing that:
First put on your glasses. After all, your glasses are pretty rigid and they’re larger, this means they have less wiggle room when it comes to adjustments.
Once you have your glasses in position, place 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 needed to be comfortable, then place the hearing aid microphone in your ear canal.
That’s all there is to it! Having said that, you will still need some practice removing your glasses and putting them back on without bumping your hearing aid out of position.
Take care of your hearing aids (and your glasses)
In some cases, friction between your glasses and hearing aids occurs because the devices aren’t functioning as designed. Things break sometimes! But with a little maintenance, those breakages can be prevented.
For your hearing aids:
- The right tools (a soft pick and a brush) should be utilized to remove debris and earwax.
- Make sure to clean your hearing aids at least once a week.
- When you aren’t using your hearing aids, make sure to keep them somewhere dry and clean.
- If you have a rechargeable hearing aid, keep the battery charged.
For your glasses:
- 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.
- Store your glasses in a case when you’re not using them. If you don’t have a case, just store them in a dry spot where they won’t be inadvertently smashed or stepped on.
- When your glasses are dirty, clean them. Typically, this is at least once every day!
- If your glasses stop fitting properly, take them to your optician for an adjustment.
Sometimes you require professional assistance
Hearing aids and glasses are both complex devices (even though they may not seem like it at first glance). This means that it’s crucial to speak with professionals who can help you find 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 avoiding problems rather than trying to fix those problems).
Hearing aids and glasses don’t have to fight
If you haven’t already realized it, now it’s time to accept that hearing aids and glasses don’t have to fight with each other. Certainly, 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.