Hearing Aids With Hijab, Masks and Head Coverings: Practical Tips

AudiologyOctober 13, 20269 min read

Wearing hearing aids with hijab is very manageable once you have a routine. Put your hearing aids in first and arrange the scarf loosely over them, take the scarf off slowly so it does not pull a hearing aid out, and tell your audiologist that you wear a hijab so the style and fit can be chosen with it in mind. The same ideas help with face masks, the shemagh, the ghutra, the kumma and the massar.

Many people in Oman cover their head every day, and many wear a mask at times, for example in clinics, during illness or on dusty days. Fabric around the ears raises practical questions: will the hearing aid fall out, will the sound be muffled, will it whistle? This guide answers them.

What changes when you wear hearing aids with hijab

Head coverings affect hearing aids in three ways:

Pressure and movement. A tight under-scarf or a pinned scarf can press on the hearing aid or shift it out of position, especially the part that sits behind the ear.
Fabric over the microphones. Hearing aid microphones pick up sound through small openings. Thick or layered fabric over them can make sound slightly softer or add a rustling noise when the fabric moves.
Whistling. When something covers the ear closely, sound from the hearing aid can be picked up again by its own microphones and cause whistling (feedback). Our article on hearing aid whistling explains the common causes.

None of these is a reason to avoid hearing aids. They are reasons to plan the fit and the routine.

Choosing a style that works with a head covering

Your hearing test results come first, because they decide which styles are suitable for you. Within that, the head covering is a fair point to raise. Our hearing aids catalogue includes:

Receiver-in-canal styles (RIC, MiniRIE, MicroRIE). A small case sits behind the ear with a thin wire to the ear canal. Many people find the small case sits comfortably under a scarf.
Behind-the-ear styles (BTE). The whole hearing aid sits behind the ear. BTEs are larger and easier to handle, and they are used for a wide range of hearing loss, including power and super-power fittings. Under a scarf, the larger case can be more noticeable to you, so the fit is worth checking with your scarf on.
Completely-in-canal (CIC). The two KLAR CIC models sit in the ear canal with nothing behind the ear, so there is no case for the scarf to press on. They use size 10 zinc-air batteries, need a cabled fitting and are not wireless. According to NIDCD, canal styles are generally used for mild to moderately severe hearing loss, and not every ear canal suits one.

There is no single "best" style for hijab wearers. A style that suits your hearing, your ears and your hands is the right starting point, and the head covering is then one factor among several.

Putting on and taking off: a simple order

Most people find this order works well:

Hearing aids first. Put your hearing aids in and check they feel secure.
Under-scarf next, loosely around the ears. If you wear an under-scarf or cap, avoid pulling it tight over the hearing aids.
Scarf last. Wrap or drape it so the fabric lies over the ears without pressing. Keep pins and brooches away from the ear area, where they can catch the wire or the case.

When you take it off:

Remove the scarf slowly, lifting it away from your ears rather than sliding it backwards.
Check both ears before you put the scarf away. A hearing aid can come off with the fabric and drop unnoticed.
If one is missing, look in the folds of the scarf first, then the floor around you.

Doing this in the same place every day, for example at home near the hearing aid case, makes a lost hearing aid much less likely.

Prayer garments and changing scarves during the day

Many women put on a prayer garment or change scarves more than once a day, and each time fabric passes over the head it can catch a hearing aid. Use the same rule every time: put the garment on and take it off slowly, lift it away from the ears, and check both hearing aids before carrying on. If you take the hearing aids out, put them straight into their case rather than on a prayer mat or the arm of a sofa, where they are easy to lose or step on.

Fabric, sound and comfort tips

Lighter fabric over the ears usually lets more sound through than several thick layers.
If you hear rustling, try a smoother fabric or a style that moves less around the ears.
If sound seems muffled with the scarf on, tell your audiologist. Settings can be reviewed during programming and fine-tuning, and it helps to wear your usual hijab to the appointment.
If you feel pressure or soreness behind the ear, do not ignore it. The fit can be checked.
Buttons and controls. Many models list a programmable push button or toggle, which can be harder to reach under fabric. The Danavox remote control, according to the manufacturer, changes programs and adjusts volume with large buttons and a lock key, and works with compatible hearing aids. You can find it on our accessories page.

Some people also ask about retention cords or clips that attach a hearing aid to clothing. These are generic accessories that some wearers use as a safeguard against dropping a hearing aid; ask at your appointment whether one would suit your hearing aids.

Face masks and hearing aids

Masks with ear loops are a common way to lose a hearing aid, because the loop catches the hearing aid when the mask comes off. ASHA (the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) suggests:

Choosing a mask with ties instead of ear loops, or using a button extender so the mask attaches behind the head.
Securing the hearing aid with a non-damaging material, such as a cloth headband.
Removing the mask in a safe place, then checking the hearing aid is still working.

Masks also hide the mouth, which many people with hearing loss rely on. ASHA notes that masks block lip reading and facial expressions, and suggests a clear-panel mask where appropriate. Asking others to face you and speak a little slower helps; our article on communicating with hearing loss has more ideas for family and friends.

Shemagh, ghutra, kumma and massar

Men's head coverings raise similar points. A kumma or a cap can sit close to the hearing aids, and a wrapped massar or a shemagh can press on the ears or cover the microphones.

Put the hearing aids in before the head covering, and adjust the fabric so it does not press on them.
When you take off a massar or shemagh, unwrap it slowly and check both ears.
If whistling starts when you put on the head covering, mention it at your follow-up visit, so the fit and settings can be checked with it on.

Bring your head covering to your fitting

The easiest way to make hearing aids work with a hijab, a massar or a mask is to wear it to your Danavox hearing aid fitting. The audiologist can then check comfort, the position of the hearing aid and any whistling with your usual covering in place, and show you how to insert and remove the hearing aids without disturbing it. Fitting may also include ear impressions for custom moulds when needed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wear hearing aids with hijab every day?

Yes, many women do. Put the hearing aids in first, keep the scarf loose over the ears, and remove it slowly. Tell your audiologist that you wear a hijab so the fit can be checked with it on.

Does a hijab muffle the sound of hearing aids?

Thick or layered fabric over the microphones can make sound a little softer or add rustling. Lighter fabric often helps. If the difference bothers you, ask about it at a follow-up visit.

Which hearing aid style is best with a hijab?

There is no single best style. Small receiver-in-canal styles sit discreetly behind the ear, and CIC models sit in the ear canal, but your hearing test, your ears and your handling decide what suits you.

How do I avoid losing a hearing aid when taking off a mask?

Choose a mask with ties or use a button extender, take it off slowly in a safe place, and check both hearing aids afterwards.

Book an appointment

To choose and fit hearing aids around your hijab or head covering, book an appointment at Jordan Hearing & Speech in Bousher, Muscat, or call or WhatsApp +968 9171 8373. No referral is needed for a hearing test, and you are welcome to wear your usual covering so the Danavox hearing aid fitting reflects your daily life.

Sources

ASHA — Tips for keeping mask use from hindering communication
NIDCD (NIH) — Hearing aids
Danavox product portfolio, as published in our hearing aids catalogue on this site.

This article is general information and does not replace advice from a qualified professional.

Hearing Aid Selection, Fitting, Programming & Follow-up