Ears, Hearing aids and masks - Caution !!

[Morrison10]

Our ears are so useful, not just for hearing, and keeping our spectacles in place, and for me my single hearing aid rests on right one. An experimental operation killed nerve in left ear years ago. Now we have to wear masks, most of which (including NHS recommendation FFP3) are designed to also go round ears. Unfortunately my mask caught my aid few weeks ago when had to go surgery for blood test, only been out few times so don’t need to often wear mask, but aid hasn’t been same since, and is gradually ceasing to work. Have tried previously to buy spare NHS aid, (we have to pay for glasses and dentists) but always refused. Hope no one else is in this difficult situation, but if so, good luck and join me in pushing NHS hearing services to be more helpful and sensible. Thanks and good wishes.

[Troilus]

My husband went in the shower with his in - he’d got them through the nhs from spec savers and they wouldn’t replace them because he wasn’t due a hearing test, so annoying. Anyway, he managed to get an appointment with the nhs clinic in the local hospital and somehow got new ones.Then, lo and behold, he goes in the shower with them in again! This time, he didn’t say he’d been in the shower, he just rang up and said he thought something had gone wrong with them and got a replacement again, no arguments this time.

My point is, never confess! Just tell your provider that either your hearing aids aren’t working properly or you hearing has got worse. It is not a lie, not really 😁

[sassy59]

Hi Jean, I have NHS hearing aids but don’t wear them because it’s too much with glasses and masks too. Not really sure what to do to be honest. Xxxx😘

[Jay10 in reply to sassy59]

I find the same problem Sassy, hsd my single one since just before lockdown and only wear it indoors now.

[jabber]

I have to add oxygen cannula hanging off my ears. I've learned to be careful what order I 'dress' - first, hearing aids, then oxygen, then glasses, and last - if I have to - mask. But if I forget and don't remove the mask carefully, I'm likely to lose the lot!

I'm afraid, like sassy59 that it's the hearing aids I've given up on. I hadn't had time to get used to them before lockdown, and find them very uncomfortable. Aren't there hearing aids that fit in the ear, rather than behind them? I'd be interested to know if anyone has them and where they got them from. I know I need to try again.

[sassy59 in reply to jabber]

It’s so difficult jabber. I think I’ll try and get in the ear hearing aids as the others are hopeless and I don’t wear them. I’ll speak to Specsavers in the New Year. Xxxx

[Hidden]

I have the same problem....hearing aids, glasses and masks...impossible! I've cut the loops on my washable masks and tied on elastic so that there are two bands of elastic that go round your head instead of your ears. I've also bought some natty things called 'ear savers' from amazon to use with the disposable masks...again they go round your head instead of your ears.

[Supercrazylady in reply to Hidden]

Yes these days (cold here in 🇨🇦). It’s a choice between seeing or hearing when going out!!! I now have a little pack I put my aids in until I get to dentist or somewhere that it is rather important to HEAR!!!! Yes we almost need a list to help us remember what to put on first—mask, glasses, hat, coat, scarf, mittens—-ugh makes me tired just listing it😡😰

[Karenanne61]

My mom and brother wear visors mostly due to hearing aids pinging off with masks.

[Maximonkey]

Hi Morrison, I too lost my right hearing aid when I first went out. I phoned my audiologist right away (expecting to have to pay for a replacement) she told me to come in right away and she would charge up a replacement. Apparently I was not the first person for this to happen to. She told me to take my aids out when wearing a mask. Not ideal but safer. One new hearing aid, no charge. The following day we returned to the car park where I thought I had lost the orginal aid and low and behold there it was, perfect. I now have three aids. Great service but I still take out my aids when putting on a mask. Good luck and Merry Christmas, Maximonkey

[Izb1]

Terrible that you cant get a spare and sounds a bit dictatorial, have to agree with Troilus, tell them you have lost it. As the weather is getting colder, could you perhaps wear a snood unstead of a mask x