The summer months offer a wealth of exciting experiences, exhilarating outdoor activities, and unforgettable experiences that make lifelong memories. Whether you’re spending time by the pool, attending summer concerts, hiking trails, or just enjoying backyard cookouts, your hearing aids play a crucial part in keeping you connected. Warmer temperatures and outdoor settings can present various complications for individuals who rely on hearing aids. To make sure your devices keep working perfectly through the season, it’s essential to understand how to care for them correctly during summer.
Common summer challenges for hearing aid users
The changing seasons can pose distinct challenges for those who wear hearing aids, with the hot and humid weather of summer being especially harmful to the effective functioning of these devices. Here are some common problems you might encounter during the summer months:
Moisture and humidity
Exposure to moisture from activities featuring water, rain, or excessive sweating can pose a risk to hearing aids. High humidity levels can permeate into delicate electronic components, potentially causing malfunctions or corrosion. Even modest amounts of moisture inside your devices can affect sound quality or damage them permanently.
Outdoor elements and wind
Strong breezes aren’t simply an aggravation, they can displace hearing aids from your ears or present dust, dirt, and debris into delicate parts. Engaging in outdoor pursuits including gardening, visiting the beach, or playing sports may expose your hearing aids to dirt and debris that can impact how well they function.
Sweltering temperatures and UV rays
Keeping hearing aids in direct sunlight or hot environments, including a car dashboard, can cause overheating, battery drainage, or warping of plastic components. Intense heat speeds up wear and tear and reduces the longevity of devices.
Tips to protect your hearing aids all summer long
By embracing a handful of helpful habits, you can ensure that your hearing aids stay secure, moisture-free, and functioning efficiently throughout the summer, no matter what your activities.
1. Shield your hearing aids from water
- Pre-Water Precautions: It’s important to take out your hearing aids prior to participating in any aquatic activities, including swimming or showering, to avoid damage from water exposure. To stop water from entering into your ears, think about using swim caps or waterproof earplugs.
- Dry After Exposure: Use a soft microfiber cloth to gently wipe your devices if they get wet. Never utilize heat sources like hair dryers to dry them.
- Air Out Overnight: Open up the battery compartments and store hearing aids in a drying container or dehumidifier overnight to remove moisture accumulation.
2. Control sweating during exercise
- Wear Sweatbands or Headbands: These absorb excess sweat and protect both your ears and hearing aids while exercising or doing outside chores.
- Keep Ears Clean and Dry: Routinely dry your ears completely before reinserting hearing aids to prevent moisture transfer.
3. Maintain cleanliness and hygiene
- Regular Maintenance: To prevent bacterial accumulation triggered by moisture and body heat, apply a daily cleaning routine of gently wiping your hearing aids with specialized disinfectant wipes made for electronic devices and hearing instruments.
- Remove Debris: Examine your devices frequently for dust, dirt, or earwax buildup and clean as necessary. Expert cleanings by your hearing specialist every few months can avoid long-term damage.
- Don’t forget to keep your hearing aids in a cool, dry area when they are not being used. Be sure to keep them away from sunlight and high temperatures.
4. Monitor device function and get professional help
If you detect differences in how well you hear, any noises coming from your hearing device, or how long the battery lasts in the hotter season, be certain to contact your hearing specialist without hesitation. They are able to conduct vital maintenance or repairs in order to ensure that your hearing aids work properly.
Enjoy a worry-free summer with well-cared-for hearing aids
Summer is meant for making memories, not for stressing about your hearing aids. With mindful care and a few simple preventative measures, your devices can take on the heat, moisture, and outdoor elements, letting you experience every conversation, bird song, and splash with crystal-clear sound.
If you’re not sure about the best way to protect your hearing aids or need professional maintenance, schedule an appointment today. Make the most of your summer with the peace of mind that your hearing aids can keep up with every exciting experience.