You’re planning a very active summer. Plenty of beach time and lots of swimming for sure. You’ll do some regular jogging and then maybe attend a ball game or two before going home and grilling up some tasty dinner. Your schedule will be pretty full. And you want to make sure your hearing aids are up to the task.
All of these activities can present unique hazards for your hearing aids, but there are a few easy ways you can protect these tiny, helpful devices and enjoy your summer too.
Summertime hearing aid challenges
Each season is going to present unique challenges when it comes to your hearing aids. Climate and weather are the greatest challenges in the summer.
Summer-related challenges could include:
- Moisture: During the summer, moisture is nearly always a factor, whether from sweat, rain, swimming, or humidity. Moisture can be harmful to hearing aids so that can present a problem.
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s powerful enough. And if you’re in an especially dry environment, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
- Debris, sand and dirt: You’re active during the summer. But sand inside of your hearing aid, like beach sand, can lead to issues.
Generally, it’s quite apparent why these problems 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.
How to keep your hearing aids in good working order all summer
Your hearing aids are made to allow you to do more, to improve your quality of life. The majority of people who use hearing aids will want to use them as much as they can, especially through the summer. Caring for your hearing aids by taking a few extra 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 keep moisture at bay:
- Wear a headband when you’re exercising. Your hearing aids will stay nice and dry because moisture can’t get to them.
- Keep a microfiber towel handy. In that manner, you can dry your hearing aids throughout the day. In this way, you can avoid the accumulation of wetness.
- Don’t swim with your hearing aids in your ears. Beach day? Great! Just remove your hearing aids first. Naturally, this is common sense. So lingering wetness 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. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) quite dry.
- Open the battery compartment on your hearing aids at night and allow them to air dry. This will help counter damage caused by corrosion of the battery.
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Drying your ears totally will help avoid the accidental transference of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
Take measures to keep your hearing aids clean
The growth of bacteria is quickened by heat and moisture. 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:
- Watch out for the long-term build-up of debris. As you’re sanitizing your hearing aids, you can also take the time to clean out any debris that might have built-up. Occasionally, a professional cleaning is needed.
- Store your hearing aids in a spot that’s dry and cool. Hearing aids, as a rule, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So keep them off of your dashboard when it’s hot. Instead, make certain they’re nestled away somewhere cool and dry when you’re not using them.
- Sanitize your hearing aids regularly. Specialized antibacterial wipes are available for this.
Stay active, remain happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids are made to accompany you throughout your life, and that’s definitely true of the summer season. 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 make sure your hearing aids remain dry and keep working.