Can I Use my Glasses And Hearing Aids at the Same Time?

TV shows and movies tend to use close-ups (at times extreme close-ups) when the action starts getting really intense. 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 very facially focused.

So it’s not surprising that the face is where all of our main sensors are, eyes, ears, and mouth, nose. The face is jammed with aesthetically pleasant qualities.

But when your face needs more than one assistive device, it can become a problem. It can become a bit cumbersome when you use a hearing aid and wear glasses simultaneously, for example. It can be rather difficult in some circumstances. These tips on how to wear hearing aids and glasses simultaneously can help you manage those challenges, and get you ready for your (metaphorical) closeup!

Do hearing aids interfere with wearing glasses?

It’s common for individuals to worry that their hearing aids and glasses might conflict with each other since both eyes and ears will require assistance for many individuals. That’s because both the placement of hearing aids and the size of eyeglasses have physical constraints. Using them at the same time can be uncomfortable for some people.

There are a couple of key concerns:

• Pressure: Both eyeglasses and hearing aids need to attach to your face somehow; often, 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. This can also create strain and pressure around the temples.
• Skin irritation: All of those pieces hanging off your face can also sometimes create skin irritation. If neither your glasses nor your hearing aids are fitting properly, this is especially true.
• Poor audio quality: It’s common for your audio quality to diminish when your glasses knock your hearing aids out of position.

So can hearing aids be used with glasses? Definitely! It may seem like they’re mutually exclusive, but behind-the-ear hearing aids can effectively be worn with glasses!

How to use glasses and hearing aids at the same time

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. In-ear-canal hearing aids virtually never have a negative relationship with 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 benefits and drawbacks, so you should talk to us about what kind of hearing aid would be best for your hearing needs.

An inside-the-canal hearing aid won’t work best for everybody 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 situation they will be able to make it work with glasses.

Your glasses may need some adjustment

The level of comfort you get from your hearing aid will greatly depend on the style and type of glasses you have. If you use large BTE devices, get some glasses that have thinner 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 properly. You want them snug (but not too tight) and you want to make sure they aren’t too slack. The caliber of your hearing experience can be compromised if your glasses are continually wiggling around.

Using accessories is fine

So how can you use glasses and hearing aids at the same time? Well, If you’re having problems handling both your glasses and hearing aids, don’t worry, you aren’t alone! This is a good thing because things can get a little easier by utilizing some available devices. Here are a few of those devices:

• Anti-slip hooks: If your glasses are moving all around, they can knock your hearing aid out of position and these devices help prevent that. They’re a little more subtle than a retention band.
• Retention bands: You put these bands on your glasses to help keep them in place. If you’re a more active individual, these are a good idea.
• Specially designed devices: There are a wide variety of devices on the market created specifically to make it easier to use your hearing aids and glasses simultaneously. Devices include pieces of cloth that hold your hearing aids in place and glasses with built-in hearing aids.

The goal with all of these devices is to secure your hearing aids, hold your glasses in place, and keep you feeling comfortable.

Can glasses trigger hearing aid feedback?

Some individuals who wear glasses with their hearing aids do report more feedback. It isn’t a really common complaint but it does occur. In some circumstances, the feedback you experience might be triggered by something else (like 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 issues associated with wearing glasses and hearing aids together. You want them to fit right!

Here’s how you can start doing that:

First put your glasses on. After all, your glasses are pretty stiff and they’re larger, this means they have less wiggle room when it comes to adjustments.

Once you have your glasses in place, 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 needed to be comfortable, then put the hearing aid microphone inside your ear canal.

And that’s 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.

Maintain both your glasses and your hearing aids

In some cases, friction between your glasses and hearing aids occurs because the devices aren’t working as intended. Things break sometimes! But with some maintenance, those breakages can be prevented.

For your hearing aids:

• At least once every week, clean your hearing aids.
• The correct tools (a soft pick and a brush) should be utilized to eliminate debris and earwax.
• Make sure to recharge your battery when needed (if your hearing aid is rechargeable).
• Store your hearing aids in a cool, dry spot when you aren’t using them.

For your glasses:

• Clean your glasses when they become dirty. Normally, this is at least once a day!
• Take your glasses to your optician if they stop fitting properly.
• Use a microfiber cloth to clean your glasses. Do not use paper towels or even your shirt, as this could scratch your lenses.
• Keep your glasses in a case when you’re not wearing them. If you don’t have a case, just keep them in a dry place where they won’t be inadvertently broken or stepped on.

Sometimes you need professional assistance

Hearing aids and glasses are both complex devices (although they may not seem like it on the surface). So determining the best fit for your hearing aids and your glasses will usually call for a professional’s help.

The more help you get in advance, the less help you will need later on (this is because you’ll be preventing problems rather than attempting to fix those issues).

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. Sure, it can, at times, be a challenge if you need both of these devices. But we can help you choose 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.