You’ve got an active summer planned. You’re definitely going to hit the beach and maybe take a swim. You’ll take in some live entertainment, you’ll get plenty of exercise jogging or possibly playing some tennis, then it’s time to hit the grill. Your schedule will be rather full. So it’s crucial that your hearing aids are prepared.
Summer activities such as these can be tough on your hearing aids, but these little beneficial devices can be safeguarded without it halting your summer fun.
Summer hearing aid challenges
With hearing aids, every season will come with unique obstacles. In the summer, many of those tests are weather and climate related.
Here are a few summer related obstacles:
- Wind: A strong enough wind can jerk and pull at your hearing aids. And if you’re in a particularly dry climate, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
- Dirt and debris: In the summer you’re really active. But sand inside of your hearing aid, like beach sand, can result in problems.
- Moisture: Whether it’s from swimming, humidity, rain, or just sweat, moisture is just about always present in the summer. That’s problematic because moisture can be a huge problem for hearing aids.
Part of the reason why these issues are more common in the summer is self-evident: you spend more time outdoors. 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 peak performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are manufactured to allow you to do more, to improve your quality of life. The majority of people who use hearing aids will want to use them as much as possible, especially during the summer. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking some extra steps can make that happen.
Take measures 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 few ways you can protect against moisture:
- Don’t go swimming with your hearing aids in your ears. Beach day? Nice! Just remove your hearing aids first. Naturally, this is common sense. So the real risk is the wetness in your ears that remains after you go into the water. Wearing a swim cap or earplugs while swimming is a smart plan. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) nice and dry.
- Air dry your hearing aids at night by opening the battery compartment. This will help stop the battery from corroding and will decrease damage.
- Keep a microfiber towel nearby. You can use this to periodically dry your hearing aids. This stops moisture from accumulating when you aren’t paying attention.
- When you’re performing an activity that will cause you to sweat, wear a sweatband. This will help keep moisture out of your ears (and away from your hearing aids).
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Drying your ears completely will help prevent the accidental transference of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
Regularly clean your hearing aids
The growth of bacteria is quickened by heat and moisture. So you should also do a few things to ensure your hearing aids are staying clean during the summer months. You can do the following:
- Watch for the long-term build-up of debris. As you’re disinfecting your hearing aids, you can also take the time to clean out any debris that might have built-up. Eventually, it’s probably also a good idea to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
- Store your hearing aids in a spot that’s dry and cool. Hearing aids, generally speaking, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So don’t put them on your dashboard on the hottest day of summer. Alternatively, make sure they’re nestled away someplace cool and dry when you’re not wearing them.
- Routinely sanitize your hearing aids. Specialized antibacterial wipes are available for this.
Stay active, remain happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids are designed to help you throughout your life, and that’s definitely true of the summer season. 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.
