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Hearing aids with reading glasses and a mask. How to not lose the aids?

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In reply to @lsmith77025

My wife got glasses specifically for driving. Lower part window cut for close-up. She can use it to read if she likes, but her myopia is such that she doesn’t need it for reading, but the dashboard is a touch too far. Find someone who will give you what you need.

WH

@WhiteHat said:

My wife got glasses specifically for driving. Lower part window cut for close-up. She can use it to read if she likes, but her myopia is such that she doesn’t need it for reading, but the dashboard is a touch too far.

Just a suggestion. Ask if something can be set up for a computer screen. Try checking the distance to your dash and to your computer screen. For most people both will be at about arms length and a little further than the distance they would typically read from.

My Optometrist has people that work in the dental lab in the family. Close up for them is about 1/2 the distance of reading.
She really understands the differences in distance requirements for different activities.

I have found that ‘layering’ works. first since they stay on all the time. Then mask which you slip under the HAs, then glases which you can lay on top of both. This lets you take them off and on as often as you need. Practice hooking your finger around the mask strap and pressing down on the HA wire, keeping it in place. If your glasses arm is flatter rather than round your ear, its easy to take it on and off.

When we were required to wear masks I took the time to either make my own with an elastic band that went behind my head. Then I found some very nice cloth ones that were on sale 4 for 8 dollars. I bought a bunch of these and modified them to change them from over the ear loops to behind the ear. A fairly easy modification. I also found some on sale on line that were made for those of us who needed the band to behind the head. It is a matter of personal preference I suppose but it worked fairly well for me. I still have all the masks I made and modified and can wear them when I choose.

I learned a simple no-cost way of removing my ear loop mask with without dislodging my hearing aids. And you can do it too.

Train yourself to always remove the mask by running your finger under the upper ear loop starting at your eyes and going back toward your ear. Then lift the upper part of the ear loop up and back off your ear. Your hearing aids will stay in place. Even if you do this for just one of your ear loops the mask will probably come off without taking your hearing aid with it.

@Rob8 said:

Train yourself to always remove the mask by running your finger under the upper ear loop starting at your eyes and going back toward your ear. Then lift the upper part of the ear loop up and back off your ear.

Post SARS, I was required to wear masks at work.
I’ve struggled with earloops and hearing aids since then.
Then Covid19 came along & I found that headbands with buttons worked.

This is so simple and it works!
The technique is definitely worth repeating.

Thank you, everyone!! I am finally getting my tomorrow, so will have to practice one or more of these methods. (I hadn’t checked the thread in a while). All of your responses are very helpful!
No way can I risk losing the aids

Thank you, everyone!! All of your suggestions are extremely helpful! I finally get my HAs tomorrow; wow are they needed! My hearing is truly awful. I can’t hear words, or mistake words; it’s extremely frustrating.

(I hadn’t checked the thread in a while, and I was away for a while).

As most women wear hijab in Egypt, it was difficult to put on and take off the masks. Women got this plastic thing which helped putting on masks around the head, on the hijab.
When I’m hijabless, it comes in handy to keep my hearing aids untouched while wearing a mask.

IMG20250826095830

I started my hearing aid journey in middle of COVID. What I found that worked 99% of the time was to just grab the loop of the mask under my ear, pull slightly downward, back and then forward over my ears. This would clear my glasses and hearing aids.

In reply to @Zeeza

Zeeza, the provider gave me one of these today. I probably should order more to have on hand. But I see that each thing that sticks out is for a different object, ie, HAs, mask, glasses.

In reply to @Semiretired

Michael, that makes sense. Others have said similar. But I also have reading glasses that I put on and take off. I need to practice how to deal with everything until it becomes a habit. Also, others have suggested N95 masks, which go around the back of the head instead of over the ears.

Edited

In reply to @AttilaDaPun

Incredible story Looked for a Newf in Newfoundland
Had Goldens for 35 years. Now have 2 Springer spaniels. Pup is 18 weeks old. Dogs are essential.

My female Westie used to jump into my lap facing me. when I had a migraine. She’d press her nose against mine. Forehead against mine. And stay there. I felt I was her rescue.

You might try looking at Reddit/masks4all, scroll down and you’ll see a Top Mask Resources. Also, if you click FEED (top of page) you might find it helpful to post your question there. Here’s the link:

Reddit/r/Masks4All/about3

Also in reading some of the posts some talked about ReadiMask - it is a mask without any head bands at all: “Alliant Biotech strapless N95 (Readimask) which uses no bands and seals to your face with a skin-safe adhesive”

Here are some strategies to help you manage all three items and keep your hearing aids secure:
:sunglasses:

  1. Change Your Mask Style
    This is often the easiest and most effective fix. Avoid masks with elastic loops that go behind your ears. Instead, look for:

Masks with ties: These can be tied behind your head and neck, completely avoiding your ears.

Ear savers or mask extenders: These are straps or clips that connect the mask’s ear loops behind your head, so the loops don’t touch your ears at all. They’re a game-changer and are available at most pharmacies or online.

Neck gaiters or balaclavas: These pull over your head and cover your nose and mouth without using any loops.

  1. Change How You Remove Your Mask
    It’s all about technique. Instead of yanking the mask off from the front, use this method:

Remove your glasses first.

Use both hands to gently unhook the mask loops. Unhook them from the bottom up, guiding the loop over your hearing aid and glasses arm.

  1. Secure Your Hearing Aids
    You can add extra security to your hearing aids, especially if you have a habit of losing them.

Hearing aid clips: These are small cords with a clip on one end and a loop for your hearing aids on the other. You can clip the cord to your shirt collar, so if an aid falls off, it will simply dangle instead of dropping to the ground.

Silicone sleeves or ear grips: These are little accessories that slide onto your hearing aid and provide a more secure fit, helping them stay in place better.

By being mindful of how you put on and take off your mask, or by simply switching to a mask style that doesn’t put pressure on your ears, you can significantly reduce the risk of losing your valuable hearing aids.

:fist:

Thank you 4mulch and Tony,

There is a lot of choice and info for me to look into there. I am due to order new masks, so it is timely.

The Costco fitter gave me one ear saver to try, so that is one of the options to try.

Since I’ve come home from vacation, I realized that I have one more item to juggle in the area: I wear narrow headbands to keep my long hair out of my eyes: plastic or plastic/fabric. But so far that hasn’t been too hard to deal with.

My reading glasses are constantly coming on and off, and they already have silicone sleeves on the part that goes over the ears to keep them from sliding down my nose, and taking them off brings my hair askew. But so far taking them on and off hasn’t been a problem with the . But I’ve been at home a lot, where it is easier to be more aware of what I’m doing. And I don’t wear masks at home, needless to say.

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