Movies and TV shows tend to utilize close-ups (often extreme close-ups) when the action begins getting really intense. This is because more information than you’re probably even consciously aware of is communicated by the human face. It’s no stretch to say that humans are extremely facially centered.
So it’s not surprising that the face is where all of our primary sensors are, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. The face is cram packed (in a visually excellent way, of course).
But when your face needs more than one assistive device, it can become a challenge. For example, wearing glasses and hearing aids can become a bit… awkward. In some cases, you may even have difficulties. You will have a simpler time using your hearing aids and glasses if you make use of these tips.
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 may impair each other. That’s because there are physical constraints on both the shape of eyeglasses and the placement of hearing aids. Wearing them together can be uncomfortable for some individuals.
A few basic challenges can come about:
- Skin irritation: Skin irritation can also be the consequence of all those things hanging from 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 knock 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 an effective anchor. But when your ears have to hold on to both eyeglasses and hearing aids, a feeling of pressure and sometimes even pain can be the outcome. This can also create strain and pressure around the temples.
So, can you use glasses with hearing aids? Of course you can! Behind-the-ear hearing aids can be worn with glasses effectively, though it might seem like they’re contradictory.
How to use hearing aids and glasses together
It might take a little work, but whatever your style of hearing aid, it can work with your glasses. For the objective of this article, we’ll be talking about behind-the-ear style hearing aids. This is because inside-the-canal hearing aids are much smaller and fit totally in your ear. There’s normally absolutely no clash between inside-the-canal hearing aids and glasses.
Behind-the-ear hearing aids, however, sit behind your ear. The electronics that sit behind your ears connect to a wire that goes to a speaker that’s situated inside the ear canal. Each type of hearing aid has its own benefits and drawbacks, so you should talk to us about what kind of hearing aid would be appropriate for your hearing needs.
An inside-the-canal hearing aid won’t be the best option for everybody but if you use your glasses all day, they’re something you might want to think about. To be able to hear sufficiently, some individuals require a BTE style device; but don’t worry, there’s a way to make just about any hearing aid work with your glasses.
Adjust your glasses
In some cases, the type and style of glasses you have will have a significant effect on how comfortable your hearing aids are. If you use large BTE devices, invest in glasses that have slimmer frames. Work with your optician to select a glasses style that will accommodate your hearing aids.
Your glasses will also need to fit properly. You want them tight (but not too tight) and you want to make sure they aren’t too loose. The caliber of your hearing experience can be compromised if your glasses are constantly wiggling around.
Don’t be afraid to use accessories
So how can hearing aids and glasses aids be worn together? Well, If you’re having problems dealing with both your glasses and hearing aids, take heart, you aren’t alone! This is good news because it means that you can use it to make things just a little bit easier. Some of those devices include:
- Anti-slip hooks: These hooks also help to prevent your glasses from moving all around (and possibly moving your hearing aids with them). 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. These are a good idea if you’re a more active person.
- Specially designed devices: Wearing your hearing aids and glasses together will be much easier if you take advantage of the wide range of devices available designed to do just that. Devices include pieces of fabric that hold your hearing aids in place and glasses with built-in hearing aids.
These devices are created to keep you more comfortable by holding your glasses in position and securing your hearing aids.
Will your hearing aids have more feedback with glasses?
There are definitely some accounts out there that glasses might trigger feedback with your hearing aids. And it does happen, but it’s not the most prevalent complaint. But it’s also feasible that something else, like 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 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. You want them to fit right!
You can do that by utilizing these tips:
Put your glasses in place first. After all, your glasses are fairly rigid and they’re bigger, this means they have less wiggle room in terms of adjustments.
Then, carefully position your hearing aid shell between your outer ear and your glasses earpiece. Your glasses should be closest to 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 taking off your glasses and putting them back on without knocking your hearing aid out of position.
Keep up with both your glasses and your hearing aids
In some cases, friction between your hearing aids and your glasses happens because the devices aren’t functioning as intended. Sometimes, things break! But with some maintenance, those breakages can be avoided.
For your hearing aids:
- The right tools (a soft pick and a brush) should be used to remove debris and earwax.
- Store your hearing aids in a cool, dry place when you aren’t using them.
- Make sure to clean your hearing aids at least once every week.
- If you have a rechargeable hearing aid, keep the battery charged.
For your glasses:
- If your glasses stop fitting properly, bring them to your optician for an adjustment.
- Use a microfiber cloth to clean your glasses. 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 keep them in a safe dry place if you don’t have a case.
- When your glasses are dirty, clean them. At least once every day is the best plan.
Professional help is sometimes required
Hearing aids and glasses are both complex devices (although they might not seem like it at first glance). So finding the best fit for your hearing aids and your glasses will normally call for 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 preventing problems rather than trying to address those problems).
Your glasses and hearing aids can get along with one another
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. Certainly, needing both of these devices can initiate 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.