You’ve got an active summer planned. Some beach time and lots of swimming no doubt. You’ll do some regular running and then maybe attend a baseball game or two before going home and grilling up some delicious dinner. You’ll be busy! So it’s important that your hearing aids are prepared.
All of these experiences can present unique hazards for your hearing aids, but there are some simple ways you can safeguard these little, helpful devices and enjoy your summer as well.
Difficulties of hearing aids during the summer
Each season is going to introduce unique obstacles with regards to your hearing aids. During the summer, most of those challenges are weather and climate related.
Summer-related obstacles could include:
- Moisture: In the summer, moisture is nearly always a factor, whether from sweat, rain, swimming, or humidity. Moisture can do a number on hearing aids so that can present a challenge.
- 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 in your hearing aid, and that could cause issues.
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s powerful enough. And if you’re in a particularly dry climate, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
Part of the reason why these problems are more common in the summer is self-evident: you tend to be outside more often. And you’re more likely to encounter a sudden 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 manufactured to make it possible for you to do more, to improve your quality of life. Most individuals who use hearing aids will want to use them as much as they can, particularly during the summer. This means taking a few extra steps to take care of the technology and make sure your hearing aids keep working.
Keeping your hearing aids dry
We’ve established that moisture is the adversary of a well-functioning hearing aid (the more sophisticated the electronics, the worse water becomes). There are a few ways you can keep moisture at bay:
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Don’t go swimming with your hearing aids in your ears. Beach day? Great! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before going into the water. Naturally, this is common sense. So lingering wetness in your ears after you get out of the water is the real concern. That’s why you should consider wearing a swim cap and earplugs when you go swimming. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will remain nice and dry.
- Open the battery compartment on your hearing aids at night and let them air dry. This will help stop the battery from corroding and will prevent damage.
- Keep a microfiber towel handy. You can use this to routinely dry your hearing aids. This stops wetness from building up when you aren’t watching.
- Use a headband when you’re working out. Your hearing aids will stay nice and dry because moisture can’t get to them.
Take measures to keep your hearing aids clean
The growth of bacteria is quickened by heat and moisture. In the summer especially, take measures to keep your hearing aids clean. Here are some tips:
- Disinfect your hearing aids regularly. Specialized antibacterial wipes are available for this.
- Watch out for the long-term accumulation of debris. You can take a few minutes to get rid of any debris on your hearing aids while you sanitize them. Sooner or later, it’s probably also a good idea to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
- Store your hearing aids in a dry, cool place. That’s because hearing aids (generally) don’t do well with exposure to direct sunlight and heat. So don’t store them on your dashboard on a hot summer day. Alternatively, when you’re not using them, keep your hearing aids in a cool, dry spot.
Be happy, remain active, hear well
Your hearing aids are designed to help you throughout your life, and that’s certainly true of the summer months. 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 be sure your hearing aids remain dry and keep working.