Your hearing aids are essential devices for keeping you safe and connected to the world around you. They should be comfortable and secure in your ear, but wearing sunglasses can complicate that comfort. We are commonly asked how to wear hearing aids and sunglasses (and prescription glasses and reading glasses) at the same time, so let’s dive in!
Can You Wear Hearing Aids and Sunglasses at the Same Time?
Yes! Hearing aid designers and manufacturers are constantly working to ensure that hearing aids adequately address their users’ needs, and that includes making sure they can peacefully coexist with your sunglasses. You should never have to choose between clear hearing and being able to see in bright, sunny conditions.
Hearing Aid Styles and Sunglasses
There are several different hearing aid styles, and they will each interact with sunglasses differently, but it is quite possible to wear sunglasses with all styles.
In the Ear
Some hearing aid styles, such as in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC) and completely-in-the-canal (CIC), put the entire body of the hearing aid inside the ear—the microphone, sound processor and speaker. Since these styles are so small and discreet, they won’t be affected by sunglasses in the slightest and should be very comfortable.
Behind the Ear
Other hearing aid styles hook over the ear, with the microphone and processor resting behind your ear and only the speaker inserted into your ear canal. These include behind-the-ear (BTE) and receiver-in-the-canal (RIC), and they are the most popular hearing aid styles. In these styles, the body of the hearing aid is behind the ear, potentially coming into contact with sunglasses.
That said, it is very possible to wear the two together. The hearing aid will sit alongside the arm of your sunglasses. You just need to take a little extra care with positioning. It may help to put your sunglasses on before your hearing aid (or removing your hearing aid, putting on your sunglasses, then reinserting your hearing aid) so you can control their positioning.
Some Complications that May Occur
If placed improperly, the arms of your sunglasses could cause annoying issues with your hearing aids, including discomfort, feedback, a clicking sound from the sunglasses arm tapping the microphone, or dislodging your hearing aid. These can all be avoided, but they are possible.
Talk to Your Audiologist if You’re Having Issues
We want to make sure that sunglasses don’t complicate your relationship with your hearing aids, and we want to protect your eyesight as well as your hearing! If you’re experiencing any issues with wearing sunglasses and hearing aids after multiple attempts, come in to see us, and we’d be happy to help you solve the problem. There are other options, such as retention clips and cords to keep your hearing aids secure, custom earmolds to improve stability and comfort or changing up your hearing aid style to something else.
To find out more, contact San Diego ENT today.