Hearing Aid Retention Options Compared: Clips to Adhesive Pads
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Hearing aid retention products do one of two jobs. Some hold the aid in place so it moves less; others catch the aid after it falls so you do not lose it. Clips and lanyards catch; sport locks hold the receiver in the ear; sleeves, tape, and adhesive pads hold the housing behind the ear. This guide compares them so you can pick the one that matches the part of your aid that moves.
The wrong choice is common. A wearer whose aid swings loose every time she takes off her glasses buys a lanyard, and the aid still swings; it just cannot reach the floor. A cyclist afraid of losing an aid on the road buys an adhesive pad and finds that what he wanted was a tether. Start with the question of which part moves, and the rest follows.
What does hearing aid retention mean?
Hearing aid retention means keeping a behind-the-ear (BTE) or receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid where it belongs during normal life: glasses on and off, masks, hats, exercise, bending over, and a child’s whole day. It covers two separate problems, the housing sliding behind the ear and the dome or earmold working loose inside the ear, and each needs a different product.
Housing movement is what most people mean when they say the aid “falls off.” The piece in the ear stays seated and the body behind the ear swings. Canal movement is when the dome works its way out while you chew or talk. If the canal piece moves, the first stop is a fitting check with your hearing professional, because no accessory corrects a wire that is too long or a dome that is too small.
Which retention option fits which problem?
Match the product to the part that moves and to what you are afraid of. Fear of losing the aid outdoors calls for a tether. A dome that creeps out calls for a sport lock or a fitting change. A housing that swings when glasses come off calls for something that holds the housing to the skin, which is what sleeves, tape, and adhesive pads do.
| Option | Job | Best for | Trade-offs | Typical cost pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clip or lanyard | Catches a fallen aid | Outdoor activity, fear of loss, young children | Aid still moves; cord on clothing; can snag | One-time purchase |
| Sport lock or retention tail | Holds the receiver or dome in the canal | Dome that works loose | Does nothing for the housing; comfort varies by ear | One-time, fitted by a professional |
| Sleeve, headband, or hat | Covers and holds the whole aid | Sports, swimming cover-ups, toddlers | Bulk, heat, muffles the microphone | One-time, washable |
| Cut tape or roll-on adhesive | Sticks the housing to the skin | Occasional use | Cutting to size, residue, skin irritation, hair | Low cost per use, more effort |
| Adhesive cushioned pad | Sticks the housing to the skin with a foam cushion | Daily wear with glasses, masks, or small ears | One new pad per aid per day | Recurring, about a month per pack |
Clips and lanyards catch an aid that falls
A hearing aid clip is a short cord with a loop or sleeve for each aid and a clip for your collar. It does not stop the aid from moving; it stops the aid from being lost. For a cyclist, a hiker, or a parent of a toddler who pulls aids off and drops them, that is the right job.
The limits are the cord itself. It can snag on a bag strap, and it is visible. A wearer who hates the swing of a loose aid will still hate it with a lanyard. Some people combine a clip with a pad or sleeve for sports: the pad limits movement, the clip catches a fall.
Sport locks and retention tails hold the receiver in the ear
A sport lock, sometimes called a retention tail or concha lock, is a thin plastic tail that attaches at the receiver and tucks into the bowl of the ear. It holds the dome or receiver in the canal. It does nothing for the housing behind the ear, so it is the wrong product for the glasses problem and the right one for a dome that creeps out.
Sport locks come from the hearing aid maker and are sized by a hearing professional. If your dome moves, ask about one at your next appointment.
Sleeves, headbands, and hats cover the whole aid
Fabric sleeves slip over the housing and tie or clip to hair or a headband. Headbands and hats with pockets hold the whole aid against the head. They are popular for toddlers and for contact sports because nothing sticks to the skin and they wash. The costs are heat, bulk, and a layer of fabric over the microphone.
For adults who want something invisible under glasses, a sleeve is usually too much. For a two-year-old who pulls at everything, it is often the first thing the audiologist suggests.
Tape and roll-on adhesive stick the housing to the skin
Double-sided tape, wig tape, and roll-on body adhesive have been used to hold hearing aids for years. They work on the right principle, holding the housing to the skin, and they are cheap. The effort is the catch: cutting a piece to size each morning, placing it without touching the adhesive, removing residue at night, and finding out whether your skin tolerates it. One wearer who tried wig tape found that her skin “doesn’t like the adhesive,” and hair caught in it.
Tape also has no cushion. It puts a hard edge between the housing and the skin, which some people feel by the end of the day.
Adhesive cushioned pads do the same job with less fuss
An adhesive cushioned pad is a pre-cut piece of soft foam with adhesive on both sides, shaped to fit the housing of a BTE or RIC hearing aid. The center sticks to the housing, and the wings stick lightly to the back of the ear and the side of the head. It does what tape does, with a cushion and no cutting, and it comes off at the end of the day.
EarGripz is Pehratek’s version. The pads are cross-shaped, about 0.79 inches (2 cm) across, and come 60 to a pack on two sheets of 30. You peel back a corner of the single liner, lift one pad by its edges, stick the center to the aid, fold the wings along its sides, and place the aid behind the ear before pressing the wings down. One pad per aid per day: 30 days for two aids, 60 for one. The foam and adhesive are latex-free, and for a small aid you can trim the wings.
The pad is designed to help the aid stay put when glasses, a mask, or a sweater come off. It is not a tether; if an aid is pulled hard enough, it comes off the skin, so people who worry about loss on a bike or a trail often pair a pad with a clip. The full placement guide is in how to apply hearing aid adhesive pads.
How to choose in five steps
Choose a retention product by naming the part that moves, naming what you are afraid of, counting how many days a week you need it, checking your skin, and trying the cheapest fix that matches. Most people land on one product; some combine two.
- Name the part that moves. Housing behind the ear, or dome inside the ear? If the dome, see your hearing professional first.
- Name the fear. Losing the aid on a trail is a tether problem. Hating the swing when glasses come off is a hold problem.
- Count the days. Daily wear suits a pad or a fit change. A weekly gym session may suit a sleeve or a clip you put on for the hour.
- Check your skin. If adhesives have bothered you before, start with a sleeve or clip, or test one pad for a day before committing to a pack.
- Try the cheapest matching fix first. Putting aids on before glasses and two-handed removal costs nothing; our guide to hearing aids and glasses covers both.
What about exercise, sweat, and outdoor activity?
Sweat weakens every skin adhesive, tape and pad alike, so for heavy workouts a sleeve or a clip is the safer first choice, and a pad works best when you start with clean, dry skin and replace it after the session. For walking, gardening, and daily errands, a pad on its own is usually enough.
A cyclist on one forum asked whether anything would hold through a sweaty ride, and the answer for any adhesive is that it depends on how much you sweat and how long. Test it on a short ride before a long one, and carry a clip as a backup.
Ready to try the pad? Order EarGripz hearing aid grips from Pehratek. Clinics can order through their hearing-care distributor or email info@pehratek.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to keep hearing aids from falling off?
Match the product to the part that moves. A housing that swings behind the ear needs something that holds it to the skin, such as an adhesive cushioned pad or a sleeve. A dome that works loose needs a sport lock or a fitting change. Fear of losing the aid needs a clip or lanyard.
Do hearing aid clips stop the aid from moving?
No. A clip or lanyard catches the aid after it comes off so you do not lose it. The aid still swings and shifts while it is attached to the cord. Pair a clip with a pad or sleeve if the movement itself bothers you.
What is a hearing aid sport lock?
A sport lock, retention tail, or concha lock is a thin plastic tail attached at the receiver that tucks into the bowl of the ear to hold the dome in the canal. It is sized by a hearing professional and does not hold the housing behind the ear.
Can you use double-sided tape to hold a hearing aid?
People do, and it works on the right principle. The drawbacks are cutting it to size each day, residue, hair caught in it, and skin reaction. A pre-cut cushioned pad such as EarGripz does the same job without cutting and with a foam cushion between the aid and the skin.
Do hearing aid retention pads work for RIC hearing aids?
Yes. RIC aids have a housing behind the ear, and the pad attaches to that housing. The pad does not touch the receiver wire or the dome.
How do I keep hearing aids on during exercise?
For heavy sweating, start with a sleeve, headband, or clip. For lighter activity, an adhesive pad applied to clean, dry skin holds the housing in place; replace it after the session. Many people pair a pad with a clip for outdoor sports so a fall is caught.
This article is educational content from an equipment maker and is not medical advice. Hearing aid fit should be checked by a hearing professional. Product availability and specifications can change; confirm current details at pehratek.com.