The answer is “yes”. If you wear BTE hearing aids and your physician recommends you wear glasses also it is best to purchase glasses with thin wire frames. You may also want to consider this if you are replacing your glasses. If you already wear glasses work with your hearing healthcare professional to determine the smallest tube that will work for you. A miniBTE might be a good option for you.
The good thing about today’s hearing technology is that it is discreet. The BTE model tucks unobtrusively between your outer ear and your head. From the side, no one even knows it is there. The BTE is ideal for moderate to severe hearing loss. Other types such as the in-the-canal and in-the-ear have many strengths, but they may not be ideal for hearing loss greater than a mild to moderate loss. Some people have ear canals that are too small to accommodate any model but the BTE.
The casing on the BTE is easier to hold and manipulate and it has simple-to-use, easily accessible controls.
Practical Tips
- Put your glasses on first.
- After your glasses are secure, place the hearing aid between the glasses earpiece and your outer ear. Insert the ear molds gently into your ears.
- Adjust both as needed until they are comfortable and the hearing aid isn’t hanging away from your outer ear.
- You can practice in front of a mirror removing and putting on your glasses. Use both your hands, and only use a straight-forward and straight-back motion. Tilting your glasses up and down or side to side will knock off your hearing aids.
- It might sound silly, but practice, practice, practice. When you practice, you may knock off your hearing aid, but each time it happens, you will learn a little more about the best method to use for your glasses/hearing aid combination. It is better to knock them off at home, in a controlled environment, and on carpeting, than not to practice at all and have it happen on the sidewalk, in the backyard, a parking lot or at work.
If you have any concerns about whether to wear BTE hearing aids and glasses, bring your glasses to your appointment. Your healthcare professional will help you.