How To Wear Hearing Aids With Glasses

Historically, hearing aids were bulky, behind-the-ear devices that didn’t always sit well with glasses. There were often three main concerns:1

  • Skin irritation: usually caused by poorly fitted hearing aids, glasses or both.
  • Poor audio quality: usually caused by glasses pushing hearing aids out of position.
  • Discomfort: usually caused by having glasses and hearing aids ‘anchored’ to your ears.

However, modern designs for both mean that we don’t need to ask, ‘Can you wear glasses with a hearing aid?’ because the answer is, in almost every case, ‘yes’. We’ve shared our tips on how to comfortably wear your hearing aids with glasses below.
 

Can You Wear Behind-The-Ear Hearing Aids With Glasses

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids are ideal for those with moderate to severe hearing loss.2 Two key considerations are getting glasses with thinner temples and consulting with your hearing care professional to fit the narrowest possible tubes to your BTE hearing aids.3
 

Can You Wear Receiver-In-Canal Hearing Aids With Glasses

Receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids are highly customisable for people with different hearing needs and are suitable for those with small ear canals, allergies or excessive ear wax.4 You may hear your glasses tap on the RIC units when you first put them on and are getting used to your new hearing aids. Otherwise, there should be no interference or interactions between them.
 

Can You Wear In-The-Ear or Completely-In-Canal Hearing Aids With Glasses

In-the-ear (ITE) or completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids are typically worn fully inside the ear or ear canal. As the hearing aids don’t sit behind the ear, they shouldn’t interact with your glasses.5
 

Tips For Wearing Hearing Aids With Glasses

Here are our top tips for wearing hearing aids with glasses:6

  • Hearing aids: choose your hearing aid first, then find a pair of glasses that fit comfortably with your device.
  • Glasses: choose lightweight frames and have your optometrist adequately fit them. Many people benefit from frames with nose pads as they allow for a customisable fit. 
  • Hearing care professional: consult your hearing care professional for tips or suggestions on finding the right solution to suit your needs.
  • Wearing: put your hearing aids on first and fit your glasses over them.
  • Maintenance: regularly clean and maintain both your hearing aids and glasses to ensure optimal performance from both.

Talk to our friendly team at your local Connect Hearing clinic if you have any concerns about your hearing health. You can enjoy an obligation-free hearing check and, if needed, recommendations on the best hearing devices for you and your lifestyle.  
 

References:

  1. Integrity Audiology & Hearing Centre (2 August 2023), Can I Use my Glasses And Hearing Aids Together?, Integrity Audiology & Hearing Centre, accessed 10 September 2024.   
  2. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (11 October 2022), Hearing Aids, NIH, accessed 12 September 2024. 
  3. Audiology & Hearing Health (1 August 2019), Can you wear (sun) glasses and the common BTE (behind-the-ear) hearing aid model comfortably and without worry?, Audiology & Hearing Health, accessed 10 September 2024.
  4. Hearing Expert (n.d.), A Guide to Wearing a Hearing Aid with Glasses, Hearing Expert, accessed 10 September 2024.
  5. Hearing Insider (n.d.), Best Hearing Aids for People Who Wear Glasses: The Pros and Cons of Different Types, accessed 10 September 2024. 
  6. Hearing Insider (n.d.), A Comprehensive Guide: Wearing Hearing Aids with Glasses, Hearing Insider, accessed 10 September 2024.