If you wear glasses, you aren’t alone. As of 2021, there were 166.5 million US adults wearing prescription eyeglasses. It stands to reason that many people who wear glasses will, at some point, also need hearing aids.
If you wear glasses and have just been prescribed hearing aids for your hearing loss, let’s take a look at a few tips to make it easier to wear both.
Different Hearing Aid Models Have Different Challenges
Not all hearing aids are affected by wearing glasses or need additional instruction, such as inside-the-ear (ITE) and completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids that don’t sit behind the ear.
On the other hand, models like receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) and, to a greater extent, behind-the-ear hearing aids do have components that sit behind your ear. However, this does not mean you should discount these models as an option if you wear glasses. Both are powerful and can be used by people who have moderate to severe hearing loss. Additionally, people who don’t like the feeling of something in their ear often find BTE models more comfortable.
Getting Used to Glassed With Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids
If you choose BTE or RIC hearing aids, try implementing the following tips to get used to wearing your device with your glasses easily and without interference.
- Choosing glasses with thin wire earpieces to allow for more space
- Putting your glasses on before your hearing aids as they can be more difficult to adjust
- Carefully placing the hearing aid between the glasses earpiece and the outer ear
- Adjusting both until they are comfortable and making sure your hearing aid isn’t hanging away from the outer ear
- Removing your glasses in a straight-forward motion, as tilting them will knock off your hearing aids
- Taking some time to practice at home in front of a mirror to get the motions right. After all, it’s much better to knock your hearing aids off on your living room carpet than on a busy sidewalk or crowded restaurant like River & Post.
Reach Out to Your Hearing Aid Expert for Help
If you find yourself struggling with wearing your hearing aids with your glasses, call your audiologist for help. They may have additional suggestions or recommend a different pair of hearing aids that might make things easier for you.
Whatever you do, don’t avoid wearing your hearing aids because of any frustration. Left untreated, your hearing loss will only worsen, which can negatively impact you at home, work, and even put you at an increased risk of certain health conditions.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call The McCoy Institute today.
