How do you manage wearing a facemask with hearing aids?

I'm a new user of hearing aids and I'm having a problem with taking masks off and finding the hearing aid is being pulled loose. I suppose I was thinking that the aids would be a bit more sturdy and stay in better. Any suggestions would be appreciated (short of using duct tape😉).

Hi Teresa @hopeful33250, I think you might want to try a different type of face mask. I saw this article discussing the problem you are having.

"If you wear behind-the-ear hearing aids, you may encounter problems trying to wear a standard face mask with elastic ear loops. The loops may tug at the wire or tube that goes from the body of the hearing aid down to your ear. You also may inadvertently pull your hearing aids out and lose them when removing your mask."
-- Face masks, hearing loss and hearing aids: https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/53084-Face-masks-and-hearing-aids

The article above links to this one - A Design Fix for Face Masks: https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/blogs/a-design-fix-for-face-masks

Hope this helps....

Wow, great ideas! Thanks, John.

Teresa, great question about negotiating face masks and hearing aids, especially if they're new.

I moved your post to this discussion where you'll find many helpful tips from fellow members like @sparklegram @sueinmn @robinraig @maryella7 @joyces @imallears @nurseheadakes and others
- How do you manage wearing a facemask with hearing aids? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/coronavirus-mask-interferes-with-hearing-aids/

Looks like you won't have to wear duct tape. 😉

I know your problem, as I have behind the ear hearing aids as well. If one is wearing a mask for protection, then there are two quality masks that protect against Covid. They are the N95 and the KN95 respirator masks. All N95 masks go over the head while the KN95 have ear loops. I use N95 masks because they go over the head and therefore do no cause a problem with my hearing aids. Forget all the other masks as they do not offer anywhere the same protection. If a person has health issues, then stock up on the N95/KN95 masks now that they are available.

It looks like you're getting some good information and ideas. The mask issue has been a huge problem for people who wear BTE hearing aids for response you identify. There have been a lot of lost hearing aids during COVID protocol.

Even worse, the masks 'mask' speech reading because the speaker's lips are covered. Needless to say, this is a big barrier for those who depended on facial expressions to interpret speech from others.

I created masks that tied behind my head when I needed to wear them. A friend of mine created some that had circular elastic that went around the head rather than around the ears. Both worked.

Best advice is to be very careful when you remove a mask that fits around the ears if you have BTE hearing aids.

Thanks for moving my post, Colleen. I'm glad to know that I can throw away the duct tape!

In early Covid days, I made hundreds of masks. The most requested were those that had elastic that went around the head because they didn't pull hearing aids out.
My husband wears N95 medical masks with his aids. Back in December he had a real scare - pulled off an earloop mask & lost the device in his one ear in a hospital parking ramp - the very day he got his new aids, and before his insurance was even in effect! Later that evening, when he went to put the other aid in the case, the lost one was there - turns out it was his Bluetooth earbud that got lost, he had switched it out so he could take calls while waiting for our daughter to be discharged.
Trust me, he has told this story to all our friends, and always double checks his aids when he puts the mask on or off.
Sue

A common problem - Last month coming out of the grocery store I saw a couple looking all around on the ground. The husband had pulled off his mask and the hearing aid came with it! So there they were, looking all over the pitted sidewalk for the lost hearing aid. The few times I wear mask with loops I am always very careful.

I have the same experience with masks and hearing aides. After complaining to the tech, she advised me to only remove the mask in a confined space such as the car or home. That was all she could offer me to prevent a permanent loss.