Slow the Spread While Retaining Your Hearing

For hearing aid users, face masks come with a ton of additional problems. The good news is that there are alternatives ― here are some of the best.

By now, most people have accepted face masks are necessary. They are a means of slowing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting our loved ones when paired with vaccination, social distancing, and good hygiene. That doesn't mean we have to like wearing them, though. 

And it doesn't mean that, when the pandemic is finally at an end, we won't be happy to finally put the face coverings away. 

You don't need us to tell you that, though. You've been navigating COVID with hearing loss since it began. And you're already intimately familiar with all the annoyances of masks, especially when it comes to wearing them with a hearing aid ― the constant jostling and interference from the hearing aid's straps.

The trouble is, you really don't have any other options. Most people don't know sign language. And although there are a few specialized face masks designed to facilitate lip reading, those are few and far between. 

Given that it's likely not yet safe to go maskless, you need your hearing aid. 

The good news is that you don't need to choose one or the other.  It didn"t take long for businesses and entrepreneurs alike to recognize that there was a problem. And they've come up with a ton of different solutions. 

With that in mind, here are three face masks (and face mask accessories) that won't interfere with your hearing aid. 

 

Forget About The Ears

It isn't just the hearing impaired that are annoyed with ordinary masks. As anyone with smaller than average ears will tell you, ensuring a mask fits (and doesn't fall off) is frequently an exercise in frustration. Earrings, particularly intricate ones, are even worse, and there's a good chance your straps will end up a tangled mess on at least one occasion. 

What's the solution, then?

Alternative straps. There are plenty of masks that wrap around the back of the head rather than anchoring themselves to the ears. And if that doesn't sound quite your speed, you can also purchase adjustable masks that wrap around the neck. 

Masks that wrap around the back of the head rather than anchoring to the ears. You can find them pretty easily on Etsy, and there are plenty of hearing aid manufacturers that sell their own, as well. 

 

Go Strapless

Not keen on spending several minutes fiddling with straps whenever you want to go out? Then don't. Kinesiology specialist Spidertech has pioneered an entirely new strapless face mask. 

Made of breathable cotton fiber, the pre-cut masks are available in multiple colors and can adhere to the face via a hypoallergenic latex-free adhesive. According to the manufacturer, they're made of the same elastic material as its kinesiology tape. 

They're disposable too, so there's no need to worry about washing them after each application. Just unpack, apply, and you're good to go. As an added bonus for anyone who wears glasses, they're also anti-fog. 

 

Anything With an Ear Saver

Maybe you don't want to purchase anything fancy. You'd instead stick with simple cloth or disposable masks. After all, they're easier to find and generally cheaper, too. 

Alternatively, maybe you have your eye on something totally unique. An LED mask that will let your personality shine through, perhaps. Or a cool custom-made design you found on Etsy. 

Both of these options can be made to work with your hearing aid ― and they'll probably be more comfortable to wear, besides. All you need is an ear saver. Also known as strap extenders, these accessories are designed so that the straps of your hearing aid can hook into them. 

This allows you to wear any mask with the straps behind your head instead of looped around your ears, meaning you have the freedom to don whatever face covering you choose. 

 

Mask Up and Stay Safe

Maybe you're lucky enough to live in an area where COVID is under control. Maybe not. Either way, until the pandemic ends, we all need to do our part to slow the spread and keep people safe.

But for anyone who wears a hearing aid, that need not mean sacrificing your quality of life in order to do so.

 

Slow the Spread While Retaining Your Hearing

For hearing aid users, face masks come with a ton of additional problems. The good news is that there are alternatives ― here are some of the best.

By now, most people have accepted face masks are necessary. They are a means of slowing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting our loved ones when paired with vaccination, social distancing, and good hygiene. That doesn't mean we have to like wearing them, though. 

And it doesn't mean that, when the pandemic is finally at an end, we won't be happy to finally put the face coverings away. 

You don't need us to tell you that, though. You've been navigating COVID with hearing loss since it began. And you're already intimately familiar with all the annoyances of masks, especially when it comes to wearing them with a hearing aid ― the constant jostling and interference from the hearing aid's straps.

The trouble is, you really don't have any other options. Most people don't know sign language. And although there are a few specialized face masks designed to facilitate lip reading, those are few and far between. 

Given that it's likely not yet safe to go maskless, you need your hearing aid. 

The good news is that you don't need to choose one or the other.  It didn"t take long for businesses and entrepreneurs alike to recognize that there was a problem. And they've come up with a ton of different solutions. 

With that in mind, here are three face masks (and face mask accessories) that won't interfere with your hearing aid. 

 

Forget About The Ears

It isn't just the hearing impaired that are annoyed with ordinary masks. As anyone with smaller than average ears will tell you, ensuring a mask fits (and doesn't fall off) is frequently an exercise in frustration. Earrings, particularly intricate ones, are even worse, and there's a good chance your straps will end up a tangled mess on at least one occasion. 

What's the solution, then?

Alternative straps. There are plenty of masks that wrap around the back of the head rather than anchoring themselves to the ears. And if that doesn't sound quite your speed, you can also purchase adjustable masks that wrap around the neck. 

Masks that wrap around the back of the head rather than anchoring to the ears. You can find them pretty easily on Etsy, and there are plenty of hearing aid manufacturers that sell their own, as well. 

 

Go Strapless

Not keen on spending several minutes fiddling with straps whenever you want to go out? Then don't. Kinesiology specialist Spidertech has pioneered an entirely new strapless face mask. 

Made of breathable cotton fiber, the pre-cut masks are available in multiple colors and can adhere to the face via a hypoallergenic latex-free adhesive. According to the manufacturer, they're made of the same elastic material as its kinesiology tape. 

They're disposable too, so there's no need to worry about washing them after each application. Just unpack, apply, and you're good to go. As an added bonus for anyone who wears glasses, they're also anti-fog. 

 

Anything With an Ear Saver

Maybe you don't want to purchase anything fancy. You'd instead stick with simple cloth or disposable masks. After all, they're easier to find and generally cheaper, too. 

Alternatively, maybe you have your eye on something totally unique. An LED mask that will let your personality shine through, perhaps. Or a cool custom-made design you found on Etsy. 

Both of these options can be made to work with your hearing aid ― and they'll probably be more comfortable to wear, besides. All you need is an ear saver. Also known as strap extenders, these accessories are designed so that the straps of your hearing aid can hook into them. 

This allows you to wear any mask with the straps behind your head instead of looped around your ears, meaning you have the freedom to don whatever face covering you choose. 

 

Mask Up and Stay Safe

Maybe you're lucky enough to live in an area where COVID is under control. Maybe not. Either way, until the pandemic ends, we all need to do our part to slow the spread and keep people safe.

But for anyone who wears a hearing aid, that need not mean sacrificing your quality of life in order to do so.

 

  

  

  

Do you think you might be suffering from hearing loss? Call or chat today to talk with one of our Hearing Consultants: