A german company is doing glasses where the instruments are
inside them… I think it is call hannover or something like that
Hi
You can have a Receiver in canal aid fitted into a pair of spectacles. The spectacles only need to be 1 mm thick. Have a look at the link for more information.
http://www.spectaclehearingsystems.co.uk
I wear glasses and find that I have to position my glasses just right or they will rub on my hearing aids and produce an annoying scratching sound. I also ride a motorcycle. If I wear my hearing aids with the helmet, the helmet presses on the hearing aids making a very sore spot behind my ears. You could cut out some of the foam where the hearing aids go if you want to remove the pressure spot. I prefer not to hear all the amplified road noise though when I am riding.
Glasses are rarely a problem, helmets can definitely be, depending on your loss. If you are moderately vented or more, you may need to dedicate a program for helmet use or forgo wearing them altogether while riding.
I appreciate all the feedback on the eyeglass question…it helps a lot. I wonder if just happen to know the only two golfers who have lost a BTE aid. I have lost an ITE after taking it out for a phone call and forgetting it…it’s a terrible feeling.
Bruce
If you’re nervous about such a calamity, there are keepers sold that clip on the collar and loop to each BTE to prevent loss or even just falling to a hard surface. Sorry I don’t have a link at hand just now, but searching hearing aid keeper should get you started.
TerryB
Interesting…thanks Terry
Or since we’re talking about BTE with eyeglasses, eyeglass-wearers might want to pursue this option from the same website at low cost and not quite as nerdy a look:
http://www.adcohearing.com/product2639.html
I’m about to try a custom mold with the same retention goal at a higher price. Three times during my trial with Alera 7’s an aid dropped off my ear and only once did I realize it at the time… :eek: Those guys are so small that they just don’t sit tight on top of my ear, and I know it’s just a matter of time before I lose one out in the wild. The other reason for me wanting to try a custom mold is that the microphones, even with a large dome, tend to back out of my ear slightly every 10-20 minutes, to the point where the tube is clearly visible and the amplified sound begins to be affected.
Appreciate the link to the keepers…is there enough room behind one’s ear for the glasses, aids and keeper?
I have been surprised that no one has reported problems with lost BTEs…thanks for that feedback…I know very few people with BTEs and two had experienced losses???
It does seem clear, however, that the industry is going full-tilt to the BTEs?
Bruce
I wonder how they would look and feel as well, but I haven’t tried them.
A couple of other thoughts about them occurred to me after I posted. I think the user might need two of those loops, one for each ear. If you do need two because they’re short, one loop goes through the piece of the BTE HA in back of the ear and the other loop goes through the eyeglass arm. If they’re long, one loop goes through both pieces on the right ear, and the other loop goes through both pieces on the left ear, and the keeper runs behind the head. Looking at the image, my best guess is one keeper is needed for each aid, but I’m not sure.
The other thought is a good news/bad news thing. The good news is that using the keeper might sharply reduce the chances of forgetting to remove BTE HAs before getting them wet. It’s not unusual for people to get so used to BTE HAs that they climb into the shower or jump into the pool with their aids on and fry them. Most people, I think, do remember to take off their eyeglasses before getting their heads wet. The keeper would remind the thoughtful eyeglass remover but relatively new BTE HA wearer to take off the HAs.
The bad news is that until you get used to the loops, if you quickly jerk your eyeglasses off as to clean them or because something is in your eye, you’re going to jerk the HAs out as well and that may not be too cool. You probably only do that once…
Don’t think anybody mentioned
I’m on day two only with my new RITE Phonal Audeo Smart IXs with the only result of removing my glasses being some prickly noises from the hair brushing the mics. No movement of the equipment felt.
TerryB
I wear Oticon Epoq BTE with glasses full time. Other than minimally noticing “something there” at times, no problems. My partner just got his first pair of BTE (Oticon Agil Pro) and wears reading glasses only. He was concerned that he would knock them off taking glasses on and off, or catching the wire as he did so. After the provider did some customization on the wires, bending them to fit closer to his head, he hasn’t had any problems. We are both very active, working outdoors much of the time, often wearing ear protectors for noisy jobs such as mowing, so we both find we remove the aids when out working …no need to hear everything and the chance of losing an expensive device.
I am new to HAs and adjusting quite well to Bernafon Verites. My one minor issue is soreness on top of my ear where my glasses and hearing aid are.
Which do most people do - put hearing aid against head and then glasses closer to outer ear OR glasses then hearing aid on the outside?
With glasses closer to head the wire coming down side of ear is more visible (not a real concern) and “cuts” more into the top of my ear. Other way my ears are pushed a bit more by the glasses. Guess I will not notice after awhile. BTW the glasses have narrow earpieces.
All of the hearing aid users in my group wear their specs with the frames on the inside of the aids. ie. between their aids and their head. Your cable or tube may need lengthening to prevent cutting into your ears. Regards, John
I also am one to wear the glasses frame against the head and the hearing aid on the outside of the glasses stem. I think the other way around would cause a lot of pressure against the hearing aid.
My left ear gets a little sore by the end of the day from the combination, however it is not unbearable.
Widex is introducing a new feature in their Clear line of wireless binaural HAs to reassure folks who are concerned about losing these expensive and tiny devices.
Their functionality requires the HAs to be in constant communication with one another. If they lose contact (i.e. because one inadvertently falls off or out of an ear), an alarm tone and verbal message play to signal the user.
Chris
This really depends on your frames. I have an older (2005) set of BTE digital aids. They fit fine with my regular glasses but compete for space with my computer glasses. The second pair fit tighter around the temples and keep hitting the switch and/or battery door on the left side. I pick up a new set of Oticons in a week or so and the smaller size of the new ones should solve the problem.
Dale
I have been wearing HA’s for 50 years, all different types. My opinion regarding eyeglasses with the instrument in the temples?
Don’t do it.
One reason is. If you are in need to remove your glasses, then you have no use of the aids. They will need to switched off and the ear piece removed from the ear before you remove your glasses. This will happen more that you can imagine. Doctor exams, cleaning, ect.
If you change glasses for tinted sunglasses or readers, no aids.
You limit your options.
Secondly. Damage. If you happen to bump your head or are hit. Any contact to the temples will crack the case enclosing the aids, then they will have to be sent in for repair. So then you have to have a replacement temple just to use your glasses, let alone the aid that is in the temple.
It’s much easier to get loaner BTE’s that loaner temples.
I wore the in the temple style for 5 years because at the time BTE aids were not powerful enough, and I went through many a repair situation.
In regards to glasses fitting between the aid’s and the head.
It should not be a problem. If the thicker plastic framed glasses makes things uncomfortable, then wire frames will be the way to go.
And also regarding wearing helmets. Be aware you may get feedback from the close fit. Best to take your helmet in to the HA fitter and have them help you on this issue.
Also some aids can have a program selection to be able to deal with the excessive road noise.
Again. See you HA professional.
Good luck.