You’re planning a very active summer. You’re obviously going to go to the beach and maybe go for a swim. You’ll do some regular running and then maybe attend a ball game or two before going home and grilling up some delicious dinner. You’re going to be busy! And you want to be sure your hearing aids are up to the challenge.
All of these experiences can introduce unique challenges for your hearing aids, but there are some simple ways you can safeguard these tiny, helpful devices and enjoy your summer as well.
Challenges of hearing aids during the summer
Every season is going to present distinct challenges with regards to your hearing aids. During the summer, most of those challenges are weather and climate related.
Here are some summer related challenges:
- Moisture: In the summer, moisture is nearly always present, whether from sweat, rain, swimming, or humidity. Moisture can be harmful to hearing aids so that can present a challenge.
- Dirt and debris: In the summer you’re really active. But when you hit the beach, there’s a good possibility you could get some sand inside of your hearing aid, and that might cause problems.
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s powerful enough. Depending on the climate, powerful winds can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aid.
Part of the reason why these problems are more common in the summer is self-evident: you’re usually outdoors more often. And you’re more likely to experience a sudden rain storm or a strong wind when you’re outdoors so often.
Keeping your hearing aids at optimum performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are made to allow you to do more, to enhance your quality of life. So throughout the summer, most people want to use their hearing aids as often as possible. Caring for your hearing aids by taking a few additional steps can make that happen.
Keeping your hearing aids dry
Water will damage electronics and the more advanced the electronics, the worse the potential damage. Protect against moisture with these tips:
- Don’t go swimming with your hearing aids in your ears. Beach day? Nice! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before swimming. Obviously, most people already do this. So the real risk is the moisture in your ears that remains after you go into the water. That’s why you should start thinking about 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.
- Air dry your hearing aids at night by opening the battery compartment. This will help counter damage caused by corrosion of the battery.
- Keep a microfiber towel handy. In that manner, you can dry your hearing aids all through the day. This stops moisture from accumulating when you aren’t watching.
- Wear a headband when you’re working out. This will help keep moisture out of your ears (and far from your hearing aids).
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Drying your ears completely will help avoid the unintentional transference of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
Routinely clean your hearing aids
The growth of bacteria is fueled by heat and moisture. So you should also take a few steps to make sure your hearing aids are remaining clean during the summer months. You can do the following:
- Watch for the long-term build-up of debris. As you’re sanitizing your hearing aids, you can also take the time to clean out any debris that might have built-up. Sometimes, a professional cleaning is needed.
- Sanitize your hearing aids regularly. This can be accomplished with specially made antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
- Store your hearing aids in a dry, cool spot. 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, when you’re not using them, store your hearing aids in a dry, cool spot.
Stay active, stay happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids are designed to help you all through 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 going for a walk around the neighborhood, there’s a way to make sure your hearing aids remain dry and keep working.