Is it possible to comfortably wear hearing aids while you are also wearing your glasses, although the two don’t seem very compatible? How to wear both is a question that comes up a lot, especially if you are considering behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids. Is it even possible to wear them both and still be comfortable? Yes is the answer.
If you wear glasses, there are certain things to think about when investing in hearing aids. Learn the strategies to wearing glasses and hearing aids together.
What Kind of Hearing Aids Are Best for Your Needs?
Whether you wear glasses or not, there are a lot of considerations when picking out new hearing aids. You can get hearing aids in many sizes, styles, and shapes. If you like fancy colors, you can get that too. Today’s advanced hearing aids are a lot better than your grandpa’s.
Learning exactly what type of hearing aids are available is the way to begin the process. They break down into three basic categories:
- In-the-canal (ITC) – This style is very much like the ITE version but it sits deeper into the ear, making them pretty much invisible.
- In-the-ear (ITE) – As the name implies, this style of hearing aid fits directly into the opening of the ear canal with nothing sitting behind the ear.
- Behind-the-ear (BTE) – This is an older style of hearing aid, but today’s version of this technology is way more advanced. With this model, the main section of the device sits directly behind the ear with clear tubing that connects to an earmold resting in the opening of the ear canal. Open-fit models are basically the same setup but without the earmold.
If you wear glasses, you can steer clear of a lot of issues with ITE and ITC models. You can compare the many features of a new hearing aid, but first, you need to choose the right style.
Learning About The Different Features
When buying, it’s the features that should be your number one concern not the shape of the hearing aid. Advancing hearing aid technology is causing features to change all of the time. Watch for some of these common ones:
- Noise reduction – Filters out background noise by amplifying one channel to augment speech.
- Directional microphone – This helps pinpoint the sound you need to hear when you are in a noisy location. For instance, if someone is talking to you at a cafe, you can hear their words clearly in spite of the noise around you.
- T-coil – This function enables you to hear better while talking on a land-line phone. T-coil technology is effective when you are listening to people talk through a speaker like at a bingo game or at the movies.
Finding the right features to fit your lifestyle is the objective. At this point, you can decide on the style of hearing aid.
What if You Want BTE Hearing Aids?
BTE hearing aids can be worn with glasses. If you want them to fit together comfortably you have to wear both of these essential accessories the correct way. Here are some tips:
- Taking your glasses off in a forward motion, using both hands, is something you should work on until it’s a habit. Removing them in this way won’t become a habit right away. The practice will be reinforced every time you knock off your hearing aid.
- First put your glasses on, then your hearing aid. The placement of your glasses arm is more rigid than your hearing aid so it’s more difficult to adjust. To be sure that the hearing aid isn’t hanging from your outer ear, after you position it, check in the mirror.
- Choose the correct size BTE before you commit to a purchase. There is the traditional version, which is a little bulky but can still work with glasses. The mini BTE is a relatively new option. Minimized feedback and improved comfort are gained by making the behind the ear part smaller. Either of these will work fine with glasses but see which style fits you best.
The only choice for those who have a real problem using a BTE hearing aid with glasses would be the ITE or ITC devices. BTE devices will be a big problem if, for example, you take off your glasses a lot. Children and people with really small ears will have difficulty with this combination, too. Which style is best for you can be determined if you schedule an appointment with a hearing aid specialist and make use of the free trial. Whether or not you can wear both will be evident after you try them out.