Whether you’re a glasses wearer in need of hearing aids, a hearing aid wearer in need of glasses, or you just want to get summer ready with some new sunnies, one of the most common questions our audiologists get asked is “Can I wear my hearing aids with glasses?”
Read on to find out more!
It’s often believed by many that hearing aids and glasses don’t work well together – but that struggle is a thing of the past. In fact, many people wear both hearing aids and glasses comfortably every day!
As hearing aids have advanced they are getting smaller all the time, and taking up much less real estate behind the ear, compared to their chunkier predecessors. There are even some hearing aids that don’t sit behind the ear at all!
When we talk about hearing aids there are two main fit categories your hearing aid will fall under: behind-the-ear hearing aids and in-the-ear hearing aids, both of which are suitable to wear with glasses or sunglasses. But what’s the best option for you? Let’s go through some of the details and considerations you should know.
BTE (Behind The Ear) and RIC (Receiver In Canal) hearing aids are some of the most popular styles of hearing aids and ideal for those with any level of hearing loss. Packed full of technology including in-built bluetooth, rechargeability, and multi microphones to allow for better sound in noisier situations, behind-the-ear hearing aids provide fantastic sound quality and sit directly on the top of the ear.
When wearing glasses, the arm of the frame grips the side of your head, resting on the top of the ear and most behind-the-ear hearing aids will sit comfortably alongside that.
Some people do not have enough space behind their ears to comfortably fit glasses and behind-the-ear hearing aids, in which case in-the-ear hearing aids can be a great solution. This style of hearing aid sits discreetly within the ear canal so won’t affect glasses wear in the slightest.
It is important to remember that glasses wear is just one of the factors we take into account when helping you choose the best hearing aid. Other factors we look at are which aids will offer the best sound quality given the current level of hearing impairment and it’s adaptability for the future, as well as your dexterity and vision.
Most styles of glasses can be worn with hearing aids. However, there are some styles that fit better than others. We would generally advise you to avoid thicker frames, especially If you wear a BTE hearing aid. Instead, you may want to consider a thinner acetate or metal frame.
A majority of our THCP clinics are located within optical practices, so their teams will be able to help suggest suitable frames.
As part of our hearing aid fitting appointments at The Hearing Care Partnership, we teach patients how to use their hearing aids alongside their glasses, ensuring that both will fit comfortably. Glasses go on first and sit close to the head and hearing aids sit on the outside.
Sports locks can also be added to some behind-the-ear hearing aids to make sure they are kept nice and secure; this is especially useful for glasses or sunglasses wearers who keep an active lifestyle.
If you would like to know more about hearing aids, wearing them with glasses or to find out more about your hearing, give us a call today on 0800 52 00 546 to book an appointment. Alternatively, you can book an appointment online.