“I’m already wearing hearing aids and glasses – how am I also supposed to wear a mask?”
Although wearing a face mask is necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it can be hard to add another piece of equipment on your ears. Let's be honest... they are the REAL MVP!
Often our clients express their understandable frustration at having to wear a mask on top of their behind the ear hearing aids. We get it!
While it may be tempting to forgo your hearing aids until masks are no longer needed, not wearing your hearing aids can cause your brain to struggle with sounds when you begin to wear them again. Auditory stimulation is good for our brain so you don’t want to take that away. So what can you do?
We’ve come up with a few solutions that may help.
1. Stand still and remove one loop at a time. If your hearing aids fall out, it will be easier to find them. Make sure your hearing aids are still on your ears before leaving your location!
2. Try to take your mask off in a regular place, like your car or home. This way, if you do pop a hearing aid out, it is more likely to be in one place.
3. Try wearing a mask that ties around your head instead of looping around your ears. Another option is to wear a mask extender – this is a plastic or cloth piece that your wear behind your head. The loops of the mask attach to this, instead of your ears.
4. Remember topair your hearing aids to your phone! Some hearing aids can be tracked through their app. This was if you lose them, you can see where they are!
5. Let us know you’re struggling! We can go through options with you such as providing you with ear molds or remaking your current ear molds. This piece that fits right in your ear can be modified so it is less likely to come out.
With masks, social distancing, and plastic barriers, even hearing people are having a difficult time understanding what is being said. Make sure to speak clearly and loudly,and rephrase sentences if you aren’t being understood.
If there has ever been a time that we need to hear people and connect with each other, it’s now! We can get through this together.
If you need help, contact us through our website or call us at 780-244-4327
