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How to Wear Hearing Aids with a Face Mask
Adjusting to life with a face mask has been challenging for everybody over the past 12 months, but it’s particularly difficult for anyone with a hearing impairment.
Not only do face masks muffle everyday speech and make it that little bit harder to hear, but they also interfere with a behind-the-ear hearing aid when worn normally.
However, there are ways to wear a hearing aid with a face mask without compromising your hearing. We’ve listed those here along with tips for communicating with a hearing-impaired person while wearing a face mask, so you can protect your health and your hearing at the same time.
4 tips for wearing a face mask with hearing aids
- Opt for a mask that ties behind your head as opposed to looping behind the ears, so the straps don’t interfere with your hearing aid.
- Tie long hair into a bun or high ponytail and loop the mask elastic around the base.
- Get creative with a DIY mask extender. For example, you can add buttons to a headband as an attachment point for the mask elastic. You can also purchase these online, and they’re great to have on hand when the only option is a standard, short loop mask.
- If you do need to take your mask off, do so in an area where you won’t damage or lose the hearing aid if it falls off.
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How to communicate when wearing a face mask
Face masks can also make communication even more challenging for people with hearing loss. Speech becomes quieter, and lip-reading is impossible with a conventional mask.
But that doesn’t mean you have to shout. Use the following strategies for smooth conversation while wearing a face mask:
- Use plenty of gestures and eye contact to communicate meaning and tone.
- Ask friends to use communicator masks with a clear window at the front, so you can lip-read.
- Slow your speech and put the emphasis on clarity, not volume.
- Reduce external noise, or wait until you’re in a quiet environment to talk.
- Encourage friends and family to use a speech-to-text app if you are unable to hear.
- If someone does need to remove their mask to be heard, put a safe distance between you first.