You have a lively summer planned. Some beach time and lots of swimming for sure. You’ll do some regular running and then maybe attend a baseball game or two before going home to up some delicious dinner. You’re going to be busy! So it’s important that your hearing aids are ready.
All of these experiences can introduce unique challenges for your hearing aids, but there are some simple ways you can protect these tiny, helpful devices and enjoy your summer as well.
Summertime hearing aid challenges
Every season is going to present distinct challenges with regards to your hearing aids. Climate and weather are the greatest challenges during the summer.
Here are a few summer related obstacles:
- Wind: A strong enough wind can jerk and yank at your hearing aids. Depending on the climate, powerful winds can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aid.
- Debris, sand and dirt: In the summer you’re really active. But sand inside of your hearing aid, such as beach sand, can lead to problems.
- Moisture: During the summer, moisture is almost always a factor, whether from rain, sweat, swimming, or humidity. Moisture can do a number on hearing aids so that can present a challenge.
Part of the reason why these issues are more likely to crop up in the summer is self-evident: you tend to be outdoors more often. And when you spend more time outside, you’re more likely to encounter a powerful gust of wind or a flash rainstorm.
Keeping your hearing aids at optimum performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are made to improve your quality of life, to make it possible for you to do more. So throughout the summer, most people want to wear their hearing aids as often as possible. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking some extra steps can make that happen.
Take measures to keep your hearing aids dry
We’ve established that moisture is the adversary of a well-functioning hearing aid (the more sophisticated the electronics, the worse water becomes). There are several ways you can protect against moisture:
- Air dry your hearing aids while you sleep by opening the battery compartment. This will help prevent damage from corrosion of the battery.
- When you’re doing something that will cause you to sweat, use a sweatband. Your hearing aids will stay quite dry because sweat can’t get to them.
- Have a microfiber towel nearby. You can use this to periodically dry your hearing aids. This stops wetness from accumulating when you aren’t paying attention.
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Drying your ears thoroughly will help prevent the accidental transfer of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Don’t go swimming with your hearing aids in your ears. Going for a swim? Great! Just take out your hearing aids first. Obviously, this is common sense. So residual wetness in your ears after you get out of the water is the real issue. Using a swim cap or earplugs when you’re swimming is a smart idea. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) quite dry.
Regularly clean your hearing aids
The growth of bacteria is quickened by heat and moisture. During the summer especially, take steps to keep your hearing aids clean. Here are some tips:
- Store your hearing aids in a place that’s dry and cool. That’s because hearing aids (generally) don’t do well with exposure to direct sunlight and heat. So don’t store them on your dashboard on a hot summer day. Alternatively, make sure they’re tucked away somewhere dry and cool when you’re not wearing them.
- Don’t let debris build-up over time. You can take a few minutes to get rid of any debris on your hearing aids while you sanitize them. Sometimes, a professional cleaning is needed.
- Disinfect your hearing aids on a regular basis. You can do this with specially produced antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
Stay active, stay happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids are made to accompany you all through your life, and that’s certainly true of the summer season. So whether you’re planning on swimming in the lake, hiking over a mountain, or taking a stroll around the neighborhood, there’s a way to be sure your hearing aids remain dry and keep working.