You are not alone. When we lose one sense, another takes over. As you lose your hearing, your eyes help you fill in the blanks. For example, “feet” and “seat” sound the same but look very different on your mouth. Masks cover these visual clues making it frustrating and confusing. Add in 6-foot social distancing and hearing becomes even more challenging. For some individuals, over the ear hearing aides are becoming painful when wearing a face mask. The elastic bands used to secure the mask around the ears often get in the way of the tubes that connect the hearing aids to the speakers that sit in your ear. In addition to the discomfort, some individuals are also at risk to lose a hearing aid when removing the mask, especially if frequently putting in on and off.
To resolve these common problems:
Wear a mask with soft fabric ties to relive the pressure on the ears, instead of elastic, or
Use a special mask extender with buttons or other holders to attach the mask loops onto, on the back of the head, instead of the ears, or
Use simple tools like a plastic s-hooks to loop the mask onto, instead of your ears, or
Use an eyeglass lanyard to attach your hearing aides to , that way if they accidentally fall out, they are nearby and easy to find, or lastly
Seek a clear mask solution to assist you with lip reading.
These hearing tips are offered by Nancy Jablonski from Audiology Concierge.