You’re planning a really active summer. Some beach time and lots of swimming for sure. You’ll enjoy some live entertainment, you’ll get plenty of exercise jogging or maybe playing some tennis, then it’s time to get to the grill. Your schedule will be quite full. And you want to be sure your hearing aids are up to the task.
All of these activities can present unique risks for your hearing aids, but there are a few easy ways you can protect these little, helpful devices and enjoy your summer too.
Challenges of hearing aids in the summer
Each season will introduce unique challenges when it comes to your hearing aids. Climate and weather are the leading obstacles during the summer.
Summer-related obstacles could include:
- Dirt and debris: In the summer you’re actually active. But when you go to the beach, there’s a good possibility you may get some sand in your hearing aid, and that might cause issues.
- Moisture: In the summer, moisture is almost always a factor, whether from rain, sweat, swimming, or humidity. That’s problematic because moisture can be a major problem for hearing aids.
- Wind: A powerful enough wind can tug and yank at your hearing aids. Depending on the environment, powerful winds can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aid.
Part of the reason why these issues are more common during the summer is clear: you spend more time outdoors. And you’re more likely to encounter a surprise rain storm or a strong wind when you’re outdoors so often.
How to keep your hearing aids in good working order all summer
Your hearing aids are designed to improve your quality of life, to make it possible for you to do more. Most individuals who use hearing aids will want to use them as much as they can, especially during the summer. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking some 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 advanced the electronics, the worse water is). There are a couple of ways you can protect against moisture:
- Don’t wear your hearing aids in the water. Beach day? Nice! Don’t forget to take out your hearing aids before swimming. Obviously, this is common sense. So residual wetness in your ears after you get out of the water is the real issue. Using a swim cap or earplugs while swimming is a smart idea. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will remain nice and dry.
- Keep a microfiber towel handy. That way, you can dry out your hearing aids all through the day. In this way, you can prevent the accumulation of moisture.
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Drying your ears thoroughly will help prevent the unintentional transference of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Use a headband when you’re working out. This will help keep sweat out of your ears (and far from 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 prevent damage.
Take steps to keep your hearing aids clean
Heat and moisture can both fuel the growth of bacteria. So you should also do a few things to ensure your hearing aids are remaining clean over the summer months. Here are some tips:
- Store your hearing aids in a dry, cool spot. Hearing aids, as a rule, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So don’t store them on your dashboard on a hot summer day. Alternatively, when you’re not wearing them, store your hearing aids in a cool, dry spot.
- Watch out for the long-term accumulation of debris. As you’re disinfecting your hearing aids, you can also take the time to clear away any debris that might have accumulated. Eventually, it’s probably also a good plan to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
- Routinely disinfect your hearing aids. You can do this with specially made antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
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 over a mountain, or going for a stroll around the neighborhood, there’s a way to ensure your hearing aids remain dry and keep working.
