You’ve probably noted that when movies or TV shows get really intense, they start using close-ups (perhaps even extreme close-ups). That’s because the human face conveys a lot of information (more information than you’re likely consciously aware of). It’s no stretch to say that humans are extremely facially focused.
So it’s no surprise that the face is where all of our main sensors are, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. The face is jammed with aesthetically pleasant attributes.
But this can become problematic when you require numerous assistive devices. For example, wearing glasses and hearing aids can become a little… cumbersome. It can be somewhat difficult in some circumstances. You will have an easier time using your hearing aids and glasses if you make use of these tips.
Are glasses impeded by hearing aids?
As both your ears and your eyes will frequently need a little assistance, it’s common for people to have a concern that their eyeglasses and hearing aids could impede each other. That’s because both the positioning of hearing aids and the size of eyeglasses have physical limitations. For many people, wearing them together can result in discomfort.
A few primary challenges can arise:
- Skin irritation: Skin irritation can also be the consequence of all those things hanging off your face. Mostly this happens because neither your hearing aid nor glasses are fitting correctly.
- Poor audio quality: It’s common for your audio quality to suffer when your glasses push your hearing aids out of position.
- Pressure: Somehow, both hearing aids and eyeglasses need to be affixed to your face; frequently, they use the ear as a good anchor. But when your ears have to retain both eyeglasses and hearing aids, a feeling of pressure and sometimes even pain can result. 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 may seem like they’re contradictory.
Using glasses and hearing aids together
It may take a little bit of work, but whatever your type of hearing aid, it can be compatible with your glasses. In general, only the behind-the-ear style of hearing aid is pertinent to this discussion. Inside-the-canal hearing aids are very small and fit almost entirely inside the ear so they aren’t really under consideration here. In-ear-canal hearing aids almost never have a negative relationship with glasses.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids, though, sit behind your ear. They’re connected by a wire to a speaker that goes in your ear canal. Each kind of hearing aid has its own benefits and drawbacks, so you should talk to us about what type of hearing aid would be appropriate for your hearing needs.
An inside-the-canal hearing aid won’t work best for everyone but if you wear your glasses all day, they’re something you might want to think about. Some individuals will need a BTE style device in order to hear adequately, but even if that’s the case they will be able to make it work with glasses.
Adjust your glasses
In some cases, the type and style of glasses you wear will have a considerable effect on how comfortable your hearing aids are. You will want to invest in glasses with slimmer frames if you wear a large BTE hearing aid. Work with your optician to select a glasses style that will accommodate your hearing aids.
And it’s also important to make sure your glasses fit correctly. You want them snug (but not too tight) and you want to make sure they aren’t too slack. If your glasses are wiggling around all over the place, you could jeopardize your hearing aid results.
Don’t be afraid to use accessories
So how can you wear glasses and hearing aids simultaneously? Well, If you’re having trouble handling both your glasses and hearing aids, don’t worry, you aren’t the only one! This is good news because it means that there are devices you can use to make things a bit easier. Here are a few of those devices:
- Specially designed devices: Using your hearing aids and glasses simultaneously will be much easier if you take advantage of the wide range of devices on the market designed to do just that. Devices include pieces of cloth that hold your hearing aids in position and glasses with hearing aids built right in.
- Anti-slip hooks: If your glasses are moving all around, they can knock your hearing aid out of place and these devices help stop that. They’re a little more subtle than a retention band.
- Retention bands: You put these bands on your glasses to help them stay in place. If you’re a more active person, these are a practical idea.
The goal with all of these devices is to secure your hearing aids, keep your glasses in position, and keep you feeling comfortable.
Will your hearing aids have more feedback if you’re wearing glasses?
There are definitely some reports out there that glasses might cause feedback with your hearing aids. And it does happen, but it’s not the most common complaint. But it’s also feasible that something else, such as a speaker, is actually what’s triggering the feedback.
Still, you should definitely contact us if you think your glasses may be causing your hearing aids to feedback.
The best way to wear your hearing aids and glasses
Many of the difficulties connected to wearing hearing aids and glasses at the same time can be averted by ensuring that all of your devices are being worn properly. You want them to fit right!
Here’s how you can go about doing that:
First put on your glasses. After all, your glasses are pretty rigid and they’re bigger, this means they have less wiggle room with regards 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 place the hearing aid microphone inside your ear canal.
That’s all there is to it! That being said, you will still need some practice taking off 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 (hearing aids or glasses) isn’t well taken care of, the conflict between the two can be amplified. Things break sometimes! But those breakages can often be prevented with a little maintenance and regular care.
For your hearing aids:
- Use a soft pick and a brush to remove earwax and debris.
- If you have a rechargeable hearing aid, keep the battery charged.
- Store your hearing aids in a cool, dry place when you aren’t wearing them.
- Make sure to clean your hearing aids at least once a week.
For your glasses:
- When you’re not using, keep in a case. Or, you can keep them in a safe dry place if you don’t have a case.
- 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.
- Take your glasses to your optician if they stop fitting properly.
- Clean your glasses when they get dirty. Typically, this is at least once a day!
Professional assistance is occasionally needed
Though it may not at first seem like it, both hearing aids and glasses a complex pieces of technology. This means that it’s crucial to talk to professionals who can help you determine 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 later on (this is because you’ll be avoiding problems rather than attempting 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 recognize 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. You will be able to be more focused on enjoying your life and less on keeping your hearing aid in place with our help.