You’ve likely noted that when movies or TV shows get really intense, they start using close-ups (maybe even extreme close-ups). 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 no surprise. The face is jam packed (in a visually excellent way, of course).
But when your face requires more than one assistive device, it can become a problem. It can become a bit cumbersome when you wear a hearing aid and wear glasses simultaneously, for instance. In some circumstances, you may even have challenges. These tips on how to wear 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 frequently require a bit of assistance, it’s common for people to have a concern that their eyeglasses and hearing aids could impair 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 people.
There are a couple of key concerns:
- Skin irritation: All of those bits hanging off your face can also sometimes produce skin irritation. If neither your glasses nor your hearing aids are fitting correctly, this is particularly true.
- Pressure: Somehow, both hearing aids and eyeglasses need to be affixed to your face; usually, they use the ear as a good anchor. But when your ears have to hold on to both eyeglasses and hearing aids, a sense of pressure and sometimes even pain can be the outcome. This can also create strain and pressure around the temples.
- Poor audio quality: It isn’t unheard of for your glasses to knock your hearing aids out of position, resulting in less than ideal audio quality.
So, can you wear glasses with hearing aids? Definitely! Behind-the-ear hearing aids can be worn with glasses successfully, though it might seem like they’re contradictory.
How to use glasses and hearing aids at the same time
Every type 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 objective of this article, we’ll be discussing 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 under consideration 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. They’re connected by a wire to a speaker that goes in your ear canal. Each kind of hearing aid has its own advantages and weaknesses, so you should speak with us about what kind 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 may want to think about. Some people will require a BTE style device in order to hear sufficiently, but even if that’s the case they can still make it work with glasses.
Adjust your glasses
In some cases, the type and style of glasses you wear will have a significant influence on how comfortable your hearing aids are. If you wear 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.
And it’s also significant to be certain your glasses fit properly. They shouldn’t be too slack or too tight. If your glasses are jiggling around everywhere, you may jeopardize your hearing aid results.
Don’t be afraid to use accessories
So how can glasses and hearing aids be worn with each other? Well, If you’re having trouble dealing with both your glasses and hearing aids, don’t worry, you aren’t the only one! This is a good thing because things can get a little easier by utilizing some available devices. Some of those devices include:
- 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 simultaneously. Glasses with hearing aids built right in are an example of one of these devices.
- Anti-slip hooks: These hooks also help to prevent your glasses from sliding all around (and potentially moving your hearing aids at the same time). They’re a bit more subtle than a retention band.
- Retention bands: You put these bands on your glasses to help them stay in place. These are a great idea if you’re a more active person.
The goal 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 individuals who wear glasses with their hearing aids do document more feedback. And it does happen, but it’s not the most prevalent complaint. In some instances, the feedback you experience may be triggered by something else (such as a television speaker or mobile phone speaker).
Still, if you’re experiencing hearing aid feedback and interference and you think your glasses are the problem, get in touch with us about possible solutions.
How to put on your hearing aids and glasses
If you make certain that your devices are properly worn you can prevent many of the problems associated with wearing 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. When it comes to adjustment, your glasses are bigger so they will have less wiggle room.
Then, gently position your hearing aid shell between your outer ear and your glasses earpiece. The earpiece of your glasses should be against your head.
After both are comfortably adjusted, you can place the microphone of the hearing aid inside of your ear.
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 knocking your hearing aid out of position.
Take good care of your hearing aids (and your glasses)
If either of your devices (glasses and hearing aids) isn’t well taken care of, the conflict between the two can be increased. Sometimes, things break! But with some maintenance, those breakages can be avoided.
For your hearing aids:
- When you’re not using your hearing aids, be certain to keep them somewhere clean and dry.
- Be sure to recharge your battery when necessary (if your hearing aid is rechargeable).
- Utilize a soft pick and a brush to get rid of earwax and debris.
- At least once every week, clean your hearing aids.
For your glasses:
- Take your glasses to your optician if they stop fitting properly.
- When your glasses are dirty, clean them. Usually, this is at least once every day!
- To clean your glasses, make use of a soft, microfiber cloth. Your lenses could easily become scratched by a paper towel or your shirt, so don’t use them.
- When you aren’t using, store in a case. Or, you can store them in a safe dry place if you don’t have a case.
Occasionally you require professional help
Though it might not at first seem like it, both hearing aids and glasses a specialized pieces of technology. So determining the best fit for your hearing aids and your glasses will normally call for a professional’s help.
Avoiding problems rather than attempting to fix them later can be accomplished by getting the right help to start with.
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 need to fight with each other. Yes, needing both of these devices can create some obstacles. You will be able to be more focused on enjoying your life and less on keeping your hearing aid in place with our help.