It’s looking like face masks are here to stay and they sure have caused difficulty for some of our patients. Below are some tips for success we’ve gathered so far.
- Masks with straps that go around each ear can catch on over-the-ear hearing aids, knocking them onto the floor. To avoid this, use a mask that has an elastic band or tie that wraps all the way around the head. If your mask straps do go around each ear, carefully remove your mask from one ear at a time. Make sure to keep one hand on your hearing aid while removing the ear loop with your other hand.
- Always double check that both hearing aids are still in place after you put on or remove your mask.
- For those who depend on lip reading, try to order masks with clear fronts. While you probably won’t ask strangers to wear these masks, at least your family can wear them outside of the house, making communication easier for both of you. Here is a link to a website where you can order reusable masks with clear fronts: thehearingspot.com.
- For those who pair their hearing aids to their smartphones, try changing the location services for the hearing aid app to “Always.” This allows you to track your location whether or not you are using the app (as long as you feel comfortable with those privacy settings). If you lose a hearing aid, it will be easier to track it with this setting. If you need our help with this, please let us know!
- Some hearing aids with newer technology have phone apps that allow you to create new programs. You can set up a “mask” program by turning up the high pitches as far as you can tolerate and increasing the overall gain by a few clicks.
Please share these tips with your friends and family members. If you have other tips, please contact us and we will publish additional solutions.
