You’ve got a lively summer planned. You’re certainly going to hit the beach and maybe go for a swim. You’ll do some day-to-day jogging and then maybe take in a baseball game or two before heading home and grilling up some tasty dinner. Your schedule is going to be pretty full. And you want to make sure your hearing aids are up to the challenge.
All of these experiences can introduce unique hazards for your hearing aids, but there are some simple ways you can protect these tiny, helpful devices and enjoy your summer too.
Summer hearing aid challenges
With hearing aids, every season will have distinctive challenges. During the summer, many of those tests are weather and climate related.
Summer-related challenges might include:
- Moisture: During the summer, moisture is nearly always present, whether from sweat, rain, swimming, or humidity. Moisture can be harmful to hearing aids so that can present a challenge.
- Dirt and debris: In the summer you’re very active. But sand in your hearing aid, such as beach sand, can result in problems.
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s powerful enough. Depending on the environment, strong winds can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aid.
Part of the reason why these problems are more likely to crop up during the summer is clear: 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.
How to keep your hearing aids working great all summer
Your hearing aids are manufactured to allow you to do more, to improve your quality of life. The majority of individuals who use hearing aids will want to use them as much as possible, particularly through the summer. Caring for your hearing aids by taking a few extra 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 state-of-the-art the electronics, the worse water is). There are several ways you can protect against moisture:
- Don’t swim while wearing your hearing aids. Beach day? Great! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before swimming. Of course, the majority of individuals already do this. So lingering moisture 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 good idea. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will stay nice and dry.
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Open the battery compartment on your hearing aids while you sleep and let them air dry. This will help stop the battery from corroding and will decrease damage.
- Keep a microfiber towel handy. You can use this to routinely dry your hearing aids. This stops wetness from building up when you aren’t watching.
- Wear a headband when you’re working out. This will help keep sweat out of your ears (and far from your hearing aids).
Regularly clean your hearing aids
The growth of bacteria is fueled by moisture and heat. In the summer particularly, take steps to keep your hearing aids clean. You can do the following:
- Don’t let debris build-up over time. You can take a little time 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.
- Routinely sanitize your hearing aids. This can be accomplished with specially produced antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
- Store your hearing aids in a cool and dry place. Hearing aids, generally speaking, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So don’t put them on your dashboard on the hottest day of summer. Alternatively, make sure they’re nestled away someplace dry and cool when you aren’t using them.
Stay active, remain happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids will help you for a lifetime and they will enhance your summer months especially. So whether you’re planning on going for a swim in the lake, hiking up a mountain, or going for a stroll around the neighborhood, there’s a way to ensure your hearing aids stay dry and keep working.
