You’re planning a very active summer. Some beach time and lots of swimming no doubt. You’ll do some day-to-day running and then maybe attend a baseball game or two before heading home and grilling up some delicious dinner. Your schedule is going to be rather full. And you want to ensure your hearing aids are up to the challenge.
Each of these activities can introduce unique risks for your hearing aids, but there are some simple ways you can safeguard these little, helpful devices and enjoy your summer at the same time.
Obstacles of hearing aids during the summer
With hearing aids, each season will have distinctive obstacles. In the summer, most of those tests are weather and climate related.
Here are some summer related obstacles:
- Moisture: In the summer, moisture is almost always present, whether from sweat, rain, swimming, or humidity. Moisture can be harmful to hearing aids so that can present a problem.
- Dirt and debris: You’re active during the summer. But sand inside of your hearing aid, such as beach sand, can lead to problems.
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s strong enough. And if you’re in a particularly dry climate, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
In general, it’s pretty obvious why these issues are more widespread in the summer months: you spend more time outside. And when you spend more time outside, you’re more likely to experience a strong gust of wind or a flash rainstorm.
How to keep your hearing aids working great all summer
Your hearing aids are designed to improve your quality of life, to allow you to do more. The majority of individuals who wear hearing aids will want to use them as much as they can, particularly through the summer. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking some extra steps can make that happen.
Take actions to keep your hearing aids dry
We’ve established that moisture is the enemy of a well-functioning hearing aid (the more sophisticated the electronics, the worse water is). Keep moisture at bay with these tips:
- Keep a microfiber towel handy. You can use this to routinely dry your hearing aids. This stops wetness from accumulating when you aren’t watching.
- Wear a sweatband when you’re working out. Your hearing aids will stay quite dry because sweat can’t get to them.
- Don’t wear your hearing aids into the water. Beach day? Sweet! Just take out your hearing aids first. Naturally, most people already do this. So the real hazard is the moisture in your ears that remains after you go swimming. Wearing a swim cap or earplugs when you’re swimming is a good plan. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) nice and dry.
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Open the battery compartment on your hearing aids while you sleep and let them air dry. This will help stop the battery from corroding and will decrease damage.
Take steps to keep your hearing aids clean
The growth of bacteria is fueled by heat and moisture. In the summer especially, take steps to keep your hearing aids clean. You can do the following:
- Sanitize your hearing aids regularly. Specialized antibacterial wipes are made for this.
- Don’t let debris accumulate over time. As you’re sanitizing your hearing aids, you can also take the time to clear away any debris that might have built-up. Eventually, it’s probably also a good plan to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
- Store your hearing aids in a spot that’s cool and dry. That’s because hearing aids (as a general rule) don’t like exposure to heat and direct sunlight. So keep them off of your dashboard on hot days. Alternatively, when you’re not wearing them, store your hearing aids in a dry, cool spot.
Stay active, stay happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids will help you for a lifetime and they will enhance your summer months especially. There’s a way to keep your hearing aids dry and in good working order whether you’re hiking, swimming, or just taking an evening stroll around your neighborhood.
