You’re planning a really active summer. Some beach time and lots of swimming for sure. You’ll take in some live entertainment, you’ll get plenty of exercise jogging or possibly playing some tennis, then it’s time to hit the grill. Your schedule is going to be quite full. And you want to make sure your hearing aids are up to the challenge.
Each of these activities can present unique hazards for your hearing aids, but there are some easy ways you can safeguard these little, helpful devices and enjoy your summer as well.
Difficulties of hearing aids in the summer
With hearing aids, every season will come with distinctive obstacles. Climate and weather are the biggest obstacles during the summer.
Summer-related obstacles could include:
- Moisture: During the summer, moisture is almost always present, whether from sweat, rain, swimming, or humidity. Moisture can do a number on hearing aids so that can present a challenge.
- Dirt and debris: During the summer you’re actually active. But sand in your hearing aid, such as beach sand, can result in issues.
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s powerful enough. And if you’re in an extremely dry environment, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
Generally, it’s fairly obvious why these issues are more common during the summer months: you’re usually outside more often. And when you spend more time outside, you’re more likely to encounter a strong gust of wind or a flash rainstorm.
Keeping your hearing aids at optimum performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are designed to improve your quality of life, to make it possible for you to do more. So over the course of the summer, the majority of individuals want to wear their hearing aids as frequently as possible. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking a few additional steps can make that happen.
Keeping your hearing aids dry
We’ve established that moisture is the enemy of a well-functioning hearing aid (the more advanced the electronics, the worse water becomes). Keep moisture at bay with these tips:
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Don’t bring your hearing aids into the water. Beach day? Great! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before swimming. Naturally, this is common sense. So residual moisture in your ears after you get out of the water is the real issue. That’s why you should start thinking about wearing a swim cap and earplugs when you go swimming. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will stay nice and dry.
- Have a microfiber towel nearby. You can use this to routinely dry your hearing aids. In this way, you can avoid the accumulation of moisture.
- Air dry your hearing aids at night by opening the battery compartment. This will help counter damage from corrosion of the battery.
- When you’re performing an activity that will cause you to sweat, use a sweatband. Your hearing aids will stay nice and dry because sweat can’t reach them.
Take steps to keep your hearing aids clean
Heat and moisture can both hasten the growth of bacteria. So you should also take a few steps to ensure your hearing aids are staying clean over the summer months. You can do the following:
- Routinely disinfect your hearing aids. Specialized antibacterial wipes are made for this.
- 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 disinfect them. Eventually, it’s probably also a good idea to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
- Store your hearing aids in a dry, cool place. That’s because hearing aids (generally) don’t like exposure to direct sunlight and heat. So keep them off your dashboard when it’s hot. Alternatively, when you’re not using them, keep your hearing aids in a cool, dry spot.
Be happy, stay 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 up a mountain, or taking a stroll around the neighborhood, there’s a way to be sure your hearing aids stay dry and keep working.