You have an active summer planned. Some beach time and lots of swimming for sure. You’ll do some day-to-day jogging and then maybe attend a ball game or two before going home and grilling up some tasty dinner. You’ll be busy! So it’s essential that your hearing aids are ready.
Each of these activities can present unique challenges for your hearing aids, but there are a few easy ways you can safeguard these tiny, helpful devices and enjoy your summer as well.
Difficulties of hearing aids during the summer
Each season will introduce unique obstacles when it comes to your hearing aids. In the summer, most of those tests are weather and climate related.
Summer-related obstacles may include:
- Debris, sand and dirt: You’re active during the summer. But when you hit the beach, there’s a good possibility you might get some sand inside of your hearing aid, and that could cause issues.
- Wind: A strong enough wind can jerk and yank at your hearing aids. And if you’re in an especially dry environment, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
- Moisture: Whether it’s from humidity, swimming, rain, or just sweat, moisture is just about always present in the summer. That’s problematic because moisture can be a major issue for hearing aids.
For the most part, it’s pretty apparent why these issues are more widespread during the summer months: you’re usually outside more. And when you spend more time outside, you’re more likely to experience a powerful gust of wind or a sudden rainstorm.
Keeping your hearing aids at peak performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are designed to enhance your quality of life, to make it possible for you to do more. So throughout the summer, most people want to wear their hearing aids as often as they can. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking some additional steps can make that happen.
Take actions to keep your hearing aids dry
Water will wreak havoc on electronics and the more advanced the electronics, the worse the potential damage. There are a couple of ways you can protect against moisture:
- Don’t wear your hearing aids in the water. Going swimming? Sweet! Just remove your hearing aids first. Obviously, this is common sense. So lingering wetness 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 smart idea. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will remain nice and dry.
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Drying your ears totally will help prevent the unintentional transfer of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- When you’re performing an activity that will cause you to sweat, use a sweatband. This will help keep sweat out of your ears (and far from your hearing aids).
- Have a microfiber towel nearby. That way, you can dry your hearing aids throughout the day. This stops moisture from accumulating when you aren’t paying attention.
- Open the battery compartment on your hearing aids while you sleep and let them air dry. This will help prevent damage caused by corrosion of the battery.
Take steps to keep your hearing aids clean
Moisture and heat can both fuel the growth of bacteria. During the summer especially, take steps to keep your hearing aids clean. Here are some tips:
- Store your hearing aids in a cool and dry place. That’s because hearing aids (as a general rule) don’t like exposure to direct sunlight and heat. So don’t store them on your dashboard on the hottest day of summer. Alternatively, when you’re not wearing them, store your hearing aids in a dry, cool spot.
- Routinely disinfect your hearing aids. This can be accomplished with specially made antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
- Watch for the long-term build-up of debris. You can take a little time to clear away any debris on your hearing aids while you disinfect them. Occasionally, a professional cleaning is needed.
Be happy, remain active, hear well
Your hearing aids will help you for a lifetime and they will improve your summer months especially. There’s a way to keep your hearing aids dry and in good working order whether you’re hiking, swimming, or simply taking an evening stroll around your neighborhood.
