We are considering a behind the ear hearing aid for my adult son with special needs. There are times he removes his glasses and we're concerned that it might be an issue. What suggestions do you have for wearing both hearing aids and glasses?

How old is your son? Does he have a headband connected to his glasses? Generally glasses do not present a problem. Thin bows are better than wide thick bows. On some occasions you can have your optometrist take a look and maybe make adjustments to his bows. Also, I have seen some parents use a small amount of Velcro. Oto Clips are available through Westone labs and that would prevent loss.

This is a common question but we rarely see it as a problem.  However, without knowing your son's specific needs, I can appreciate your concern.  We've had success in the past with children who use behind-the-ear hearing aids using "Huggie Aids" which are bands that help secure the hearing aid to the ear.  Sometimes, you can even put the frame of the glasses into the portion that surrounds the h. aid as an extra security measure.  The other professionals have mentioned custom earmolds which are also a great way to help secure the device esp if you are concerned about possible loss.  

In general, most people with behind-the-ear aids wear glasses.  If you have a concern about the style of aid, I would suggest asking the specialist if a custom aid is a good alternative. For a lot of patients, they would do fine with either style unless there is an issue with the ear canal that prevents the use of a custom aid.

I personally wear Siemens Pure Primax RIC's and have my reading glasses on and off frequently throughout the day.  It hasn't been any issue at all for me.  I also have a number of patients who wear RIC's with eyeglasses and they rarely have any issues with that combination.  The most important point is to make sure the hearing aids are fit properly to the ear.  A RIC that is correctly fit will be snug over the the ear but not so snug that it tries to pull the receiver out of the ear canal.  Smaller (thinner) frames on the eyeglasses will take up less space and probably work better with the hearing aids.  If you put on and remove the eyeglasses with both hands directly from the front instead of removing them using a sideways motion with one hand you will have a lot less likelihood of any issues.  OtoClips are available that loop over the receiver wire and clip to the collar of the shirt to help retain the hearing aids in the event they get knocked off the ear.  Most reputable dispensers offer a trial period with a money-back guarantee so if that style of hearing aid just simply does not work for your son you can return them during the trial period.

If you get a behind the ear hearing aid for your son I would recommend a custom ear mold.   He can get a custom fit ear mold and still get the smaller RIC (Receiver in the canal) units.  That way if he is removing his glasses the hearing aids will stay in place with the custom mold.   There are also other ways of making sure not to lose hearing aids, such as Ear Gears.   You can see what those are by going to their website https://www.gearforears.com/    I have many clients that love these to help keep their aids dry and safe.  There is a clip that can be clipped to clothing to keep you from losing the aids.

There is an accessory that will connect to most over the ear aids and clip to his shirt to prevent losing the aid.

I have used them for senior citizens in Assisted Living homes.