You’ve got an active summer planned. You’re certainly going to go to the beach and maybe go for a swim. You’ll enjoy some live entertainment, you’ll get plenty of exercise jogging or perhaps playing some tennis, then it’s time to hit the grill. You’ll be busy! So it’s important that your hearing aids are ready.
Each of these experiences can introduce unique risks for your hearing aids, but there are a few easy ways you can protect these little, helpful devices and enjoy your summer at the same time.
Summer hearing aid difficulties
Each season will introduce distinct difficulties when it comes to your hearing aids. Climate and weather are the biggest challenges during the summer.
Here are some summer related challenges:
- Moisture: Whether it’s from swimming, humidity, rain, or simply sweat, moisture is nearly always present during the summer. That’s an issue because moisture can be a major problem for hearing aids.
- Wind: A powerful enough wind can tug and pull at your hearing aids. Depending on the climate, powerful winds can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aid.
- Debris, sand and dirt: You’re active during the summer. But sand inside of your hearing aid, like beach sand, can result in issues.
Part of the reason why these issues are more likely to crop up during the summer is self-evident: you tend to be outside more. 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 working great all summer
Your hearing aids are manufactured to allow you to do more, to improve your quality of life. So over the course of the summer, the majority of individuals want to use their hearing aids as frequently as possible. Caring for your hearing aids by taking a few additional steps can make that happen.
Take actions to keep your hearing aids dry
We’ve established that moisture is the enemy of a well-functioning hearing aid (the more sophisticated the electronics, the worse water is). There are several ways you can keep moisture at bay:
- Don’t bring your hearing aids in the water. Beach day? Sweet! Don’t forget to take out your hearing aids before going into the water. Obviously, this is common sense. So the real risk is the moisture in your ears that lingers after you go swimming. Using a swim cap or earplugs while swimming is a good idea. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will remain quite dry.
- Air dry your hearing aids while you sleep by opening the battery compartment. This will help stop the battery from corroding and will decrease damage.
- Have a microfiber towel handy. That way, you can dry out your hearing aids throughout the day. In this way, you can avoid the build-up of moisture.
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- When you’re doing something that will cause you to sweat, wear a sweatband. This will help keep sweat out of your ears (and far from your hearing aids).
Take steps to keep your hearing aids clean
The growth of bacteria is quickened by heat and moisture. During the summer especially, take measures to keep your hearing aids clean. You can do the following:
- Store your hearing aids in a dry, cool spot. Hearing aids, as a rule, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So keep them off of your dashboard when it’s hot. Alternatively, make sure they’re nestled away someplace cool and dry when you aren’t wearing them.
- Watch for the long-term accumulation of debris. You can take a little time to clear away any debris on your hearing aids while you disinfect them. Eventually, it’s most likely also a good idea to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
- Sanitize your hearing aids regularly. This can be accomplished with specially made antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
Stay active, stay happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids are made to help you all through your life, and that’s definitely true of the summer months. So whether you’re planning on going for a swim in the lake, hiking over a mountain, or going for a walk around the neighborhood, there’s a way to make sure your hearing aids remain dry and keep working.
