You’re planning a really active summer. You’re certainly going to go to the beach and maybe take a swim. You’ll enjoy some live entertainment, you’ll get lots of exercise jogging or maybe playing some tennis, then it’s time to get to the grill. You’ll be busy! So it’s important that your hearing aids are prepared.
All of these experiences can introduce unique hazards for your hearing aids, but there are some easy ways you can protect these little, helpful devices and enjoy your summer as well.
Summertime hearing aid obstacles
Every season will introduce unique difficulties with regards to your hearing aids. During the summer, many of those challenges are weather and climate related.
Here are some summer related challenges:
- Dirt and debris: You’re active during the summer. But sand in your hearing aid, like beach sand, can cause problems.
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s strong enough. And if you’re in an extremely dry environment, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
- Moisture: Whether it’s from humidity, swimming, rain, or just sweat, moisture is just about always present during the summer. Moisture can be harmful to hearing aids so that can present a challenge.
Generally, it’s pretty apparent why these issues are more common during the summer months: you spend more time outside. And when you spend more time outside, you’re more likely to encounter a strong gust of wind or a sudden rainstorm.
Keeping your hearing aids at optimum performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are manufactured to allow you to do more, to enhance your quality of life. So throughout the summer, most individuals want to use their hearing aids as often as they can. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking some additional steps can make that happen.
Keeping your hearing aids dry
Water will damage electronics and the more sophisticated the electronics, the worse the possible damage. There are several ways you can protect against moisture:
- Use a headband when you’re working out. Your hearing aids will stay nice and dry because moisture can’t reach them.
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Drying your ears completely will help prevent the accidental transfer of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Don’t go swimming while wearing your hearing aids. Going swimming? Great! Just remove your hearing aids first. Obviously, this is common sense. So the real risk is the wetness in your ears that lingers after you go into the water. That’s why you should consider wearing a swim cap and earplugs when you go in the water. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) quite dry.
- Air dry your hearing aids at night by opening the battery door. This will help counter damage from corrosion of the battery.
- Have a microfiber towel nearby. You can use this to routinely dry your hearing aids. This stops wetness from accumulating when you aren’t watching.
Regularly clean your hearing aids
Heat and moisture can both fuel the growth of bacteria. So you should also take a few steps to ensure your hearing aids are staying clean during the summer months. You can do the following:
- Don’t let debris build-up over time. As you’re disinfecting your hearing aids, you can also take the time to clean out any debris that may have accumulated. Sometimes, a professional cleaning is necessary.
- Store your hearing aids in a cool and dry spot. Hearing aids, as a rule, don’t do well in the direct sunlight. So keep them off of your dashboard when it’s hot. Instead, when you’re not using them, keep your hearing aids in a cool, dry place.
- Routinely disinfect your hearing aids. This can be accomplished with specially produced antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
Be happy, remain active, hear well
Your hearing aids will help you for a lifetime and they will improve your summer months especially. So whether you’re planning on going for a swim in the lake, hiking over a mountain, or going for a stroll around the neighborhood, there’s a way to ensure your hearing aids stay dry and keep working.