You’re planning a really active summer. Some beach time and lots of swimming no doubt. You’ll do some regular jogging and then maybe take in a baseball game or two before heading home and grilling up some tasty dinner. Your schedule will be quite full. So it’s important that your hearing aids are ready.
Summer activities such as these can be difficult on your hearing aids, but these little useful devices can be protected without it slowing your summer fun.
Summertime hearing aid difficulties
Every season will present unique challenges with regards to your hearing aids. In the summer, most of those challenges are weather and climate related.
Summer-related obstacles could include:
- Debris, sand and dirt: You’re active during the summer. But when you hit the beach, there’s a good chance you may get some sand in your hearing aid, and that may cause issues.
- Wind: A powerful enough wind can tug and pull at your hearing aids. Depending on the climate, strong winds can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aid.
- Moisture: Whether it’s from humidity, swimming, rain, or simply sweat, moisture is nearly always present in the summer. Moisture can do a number on hearing aids so that can present a problem.
Part of the reason why these issues are more common during the summer is clear: you spend more time outdoors. And when you spend more time outside, you’re more likely to experience a strong gust of wind or a sudden rainstorm.
How to keep your hearing aids working great all summer
Your hearing aids are made to enhance your quality of life, to allow you to do more. Most people who wear hearing aids will want to use them as much as possible, particularly through the summer. This means taking a few extra steps to take care of the technology and make sure your hearing aids continue working.
Take actions to keep 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:
- Open the battery compartment on your hearing aids at night and let them air dry. This will help prevent damage from corrosion of the battery.
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Drying your ears thoroughly will help avoid the unintentional transfer of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Don’t bring your hearing aids into the water. Beach day? Nice! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before going into the water. Obviously, most individuals already do this. So the real hazard is the moisture in your ears that lingers after you go swimming. That’s why you should consider using a swim cap and earplugs when you go in the water. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will stay nice and dry.
- When you’re performing an activity that will cause you to sweat, wear a sweatband. This will help keep sweat out of your ears (and far from your hearing aids).
- Keep a microfiber towel handy. That way, you can dry out your hearing aids throughout the day. In this way, you can prevent the accumulation of wetness.
Take measures to keep your hearing aids clean
Moisture and heat can both hasten the growth of bacteria. So you should also do a few things to ensure your hearing aids are staying clean over the summer months. 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 do well with exposure to heat and direct sunlight. So keep them off your dashboard on hot days. Alternatively, make certain they’re tucked away someplace cool and dry when you’re not using them.
- Routinely sanitize your hearing aids. Specialized antibacterial wipes are available for this.
- Don’t let debris build-up over time. As you’re sanitizing 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 idea to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
Be happy, remain active, hear well
Your hearing aids will be there for you for a lifetime and they will enhance your summer months especially. You can keep your hearing aids dry and in good working order whether you’re hiking, swimming, or simply taking an evening stroll around your neighborhood.