Contrary to popular opinion, winter is fun! Well, if you need to go somewhere, it can certainly be difficult. Or if you don’t have the proper gear (or proper infrastructure). But there are lots of fun things to do in those colder winter months.
Don’t believe us? Skiing and sledding aren’t the only enjoyable things you can do in the winter. You could take a snowmobile ride. You could head out onto the ice for some ice skating or ice fishing. With the proper gear, winter can be just as much of an outdoor season as spring, summer, or fall (and the hot cocoa is so much more satisfying when you’ve been outside in the cold).
But that’s a significant caveat: you need the proper gear to remain comfortable. You may be thinking: Does my hearing aid count as “the right gear”… and if so, will cold air affect my hearing aids? Or can cold weather damage my hearing aids?
Up to a point, most hearing aids will be okay in any weather
Hearing aids are made to be used every day. They’re constructed so you can wear them to the grocery store, out on a hike, or simply around the house. Which means that hearing aid makers understand that these devices may take a pounding. But just because hearing aids are meant to be worn all of the time doesn’t mean you should do anything drastic with them.
The majority of hearing aids are manufactured to be basically “all weather” as a result. Most hearing aids can function quite well between the temperatures of -13 and 158 degrees Fahrenheit. That covers the broad range of temperature possibilities (although there are some places, particularly up north, that will occasionally get colder than -13 degrees).
Which is a good thing! It means you’ll be capable of hearing in most environments. So why don’t my hearing aids seem to work as well when it’s really cold? Well, drops in temperature will put stress on your devices, so while they may work, they might not work optimally.
Some winter hearing aid guidelines
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help make sure your hearing aids continue to work at peak efficiency (or near enough) even in cold weather.
- It helps to wear a hat or earmuffs: Not only will this keep your ears warm, it’ll keep your hearing aids warm, also! And the warmer your hearing aids are, the more ideally they’ll be functioning. Your next question may be: can I wear ear muffs over my hearing aid without affecting my hearing? Most hearing aids will continue to work just fine with earmuffs on.
- Getting your hearing aid wet isn’t a good idea: Be cautious not to get snow on your hearing aid because when snow melts, things get wet. If you’re going to ask, “Well, can I wear hearing aids when it’s raining or snowing”? Yes, you can. Even though most hearing aren’t waterproof, they are normally water resistant. This means your hearing aid can probably get a little wet, but it’s not a great idea to leave it that way longer than you have to.
- Use accessories to keep your hearing aids secured to your ears: In order to ensure your hearing aids stay securely in place in your ears you can make use of one of many available clips or straps. This can be especially important if you’re involved in strenuous activity, such as skiing, skating, or sledding.
- Keep your hearing aids somewhere warm and dry when you aren’t using them: This will help prevent moisture from causing issues with your hearing aids. You’re most likely asking: “How do I eliminate moisture from my hearing aids”? In most cases, you can wipe it down and let it air dry in a warm spot.
- Monitor your batteries (and make sure they’re charged): Hearing aid batteries don’t generally freeze but they will die quicker in the cold. So before you go out in the cold, make sure your battery is fully charged.
- Talk to us about how your hearing aids are fitting: Hearing aids can sometimes become uncomfortable when they’re cold. Talk to us about the fit of your devices in order to give yourself the opportunity to lessen discomfort.
So, if you’re wondering: how can I protect my hearing aids in the winter? That’s exactly what we’re going to explore.
What should you do if your hearing aids quit working?
Of course, even in the best possible weather conditions, your hearing aid might occasionally stop working. You can take a few basic measures to troubleshoot your device (make sure your device is dry and the batteries are charged, for instance). If you still aren’t able to figure out why they aren’t working, we should be able to help you with that.
Don’t let cold weather keep you from enjoying life!
When it’s -10 degrees outside, it’s reasonable that you would want to stay inside. Maybe you don’t enjoy the cold. Maybe a delicious warm bowl of soup would do the trick. Possibly snowmobiles aren’t your jam. What’s important here is not to let issues with your hearing aid diminish your quality of life, even during the winter.
If you follow the tips above and take good care of your hearing aids, this is especially true. If you have any questions about how cold weather may effect the performance of your hearing aids, call us today!
