Face masks have been a staple for many healthcare workers for a long time. With the onset of Covid-19, the CDC is recommending (and many states require) that everyone wears a mask in public to help prevent the spread of the virus. Wearing masks takes some getting used to, especially if you wear both hearing aids and a mask. HearingLife's audiologists Dr. Dannreuther and Dr. Soiles have suggestions to make it easier to wear both hearing aids and masks.
Audiologist Jacquie Dannreuther shares best practices on Facebook Live
Recently, Dr. Dannreuther advised hearing aid wearers how to prevent getting hearing aids and masks tangled. She also answered questions from viewers. Watch the complete video here:
Key takeaways
Dr. Dannreuther, who is an audiologist at HearingLife's office in Pensacola, Florida, has advice for hearing aid wearers when wearing a mask:
- Instead of pulling a mask's elastic or string forward when removing a mask, pull it up so it is less likely to catch on the hearing aid.
- When you take off a mask, always ensure that your hearing aid is still on or in the ear.
- Don't panic if you lose a hearing aid. Contact your hearing care provider. Your hearing aid may have a warranty, which can be checked by serial number.
Don't miss the video, which includes a Q&A from viewers.
Chief Audiologist has ideas shares her tips
HearingLife’s Chief Audiologist, Dr. Leslie Soiles has some advice for people who wear both hearing aids and a mask, as well as what to do if you experience other issues with your hearing aids.
If you wear behind the ear (BTE) hearing aids and glasses, you may have experienced a similar issue. With more than one item on the ear, it’s easy for them to bump into each other. The same goes for masks. That’s why some hearing aid wearers have advised that instead of using your ears to secure a mask, you connect the mask to a headband, giving more space for your BTE hearing aids. Also, if you have longer hair, you may find it helpful to secure your hair in a ponytail so it doesn't get caught in a mask or on hearing aids.
Hearing aids and masks can be a challenge
If you wear hearing aids, wearing a mask can be more than a cosmetic challenge.
Have you lost a hearing aid? You are not alone. If you wear BTE hearing aids, when removing a mask, sometimes a mask's earloop can catch on a hearing aid and loosen or pull out the device. It can happen so quickly that it’s unnoticeable, and like an earring, can be easy to lose. Dr. Soiles explains, “We’ve seen an uptick in people contacting HearingLife regarding lost hearing aids. Many of the people who contacted HearingLife regarding this had a hearing aid fall off when removing masks. Fortunately, we have options to help. Depending on your hearing aid’s model, you may be able to locate it through an app or possibly replace it through your warranty.”
How to find a lost hearing aid
Oticon® hearing aids that are paired with the Oticon ON App for iPhone® or with an Android®, can use the “find my hearing aids” feature to locate lost devices. Follow these steps:
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Turn on the Oticon ON App on your smartphone.
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Tap “Find my hearing aids”. A map will show the last known location of the paired hearing aids, when the app was on. A proximity bar indicates how close you are to each connected hearing aid.
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If your phone is out of range with the hearing aids or the connection is lost, you can see the date and time of the last connection.
Keep in mind that the green marker on the map indicates that there is a connection between your hearing aid and phone. The red marker indicates that the connection is lost.
For the best results, it is recommended to keep the app turned on (either actively used or running in the background) at all times.
Need more support? Contact HearingLife today
The professionals at HearingLife have you covered. See how HearingLife care to find out how we are expanding our services to help in challenging times.