Wearing Options for Children With Glasses and Hearing Implants

Does your child need to wear eyeglasses? Wearing glasses and a hearing implant processor behind the ear can lead to issues with keeping both devices on. This is particularly frustrating if you’re trying to increase the amount of time your child listens with their audio processor daily.

For routine care, consider consulting a pediatric optometrist—an eye doctor who provides comprehensive eye exams and regularly fits glasses for young children. A child-friendly professional can help minimize the stress of future eye exams and offer eyewear options that are durable and comfortable for little ears.

When it comes to your child’s frames, look for eyewear that suits active play, and the occasional fall or tumble. A secure but comfortable fit means that:

• Not too much weight is placed behind the ear
• The outer ear is not overly bent or stretched
• The skin underneath can remain somewhat dry, preventing chafing or abrasions

And for maximum comfort, ask your optometrist about frames that are:

• Lightweight
• Made of a soft highly flexible material (e.g., plastic, silicone)
• Have no metal parts
• Include an adjustable or removable head strap

Before you commit to buying glasses, think about how your child could wear their frames. Comfort is a must for long-time use and only you and your child can decide which wearing options work best for your daily routine. This process can take time and learning through trial and error. As you experiment with different options, watch for signs that the fit of either device isn’t optimal, including:

• Redness or soreness behind the ear
• Increased sweating or moisture behind the ear
• Frequently removing their eyewear, implant(s), or both

To help you get started, here are a few wearing options that suit children of different ages:

1. Consider Alternate Eyewear Options

For children of any age, the temple, or arms of the eyeglass frame, can be replaced with a fixed head strap so that the audio processor may sit freely behind the ear.

2. Lower the Profile

While you may not be able to swap out audio processor(s) as easily, when it comes to eyewear, you have choices. Older children and adults with implants often prefer glasses that have extremely thin or wire temples to minimize the profile of their frames behind the ear.