You have an active summer planned. You’re obviously going to hit the beach and maybe go for a swim. You’ll take in some live entertainment, you’ll get plenty of exercise jogging or maybe playing some tennis, then it’s time to hit the grill. Your schedule will be pretty full. So it’s important that your hearing aids are ready.
Summer activities such as these can be hard on your hearing aids, but these little helpful devices can be safeguarded without it slowing your summer fun.
Summer hearing aid difficulties
With hearing aids, every season will have distinctive difficulties. Climate and weather are the biggest obstacles during the summer.
Summer-related obstacles may include:
- Moisture: Whether it’s from swimming, humidity, rain, or just sweat, moisture is just about always present during the summer. Moisture can do a number on hearing aids so that can present a challenge.
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s powerful enough. And if you’re in an extremely dry climate, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
- Debris, sand and dirt: You’re active during the summer. But when you go to the beach, there’s a good chance you may get some sand inside of your hearing aid, and that may cause problems.
Part of the reason why these issues are more likely to crop up during the summer is clear: you spend more time outdoors. And you’re more likely to experience a sudden rain storm or a strong wind when you’re outside so often.
Keeping your hearing aids at peak performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are made to improve your quality of life, to make it possible for you to do more. The majority of people who use hearing aids will want to use them as much as possible, especially during the summer. Caring for your hearing aids by taking a few extra steps can make that happen.
Keeping your hearing aids dry
We’ve established that moisture is the adversary of a well-functioning hearing aid (the more advanced the electronics, the worse water becomes). Protect against moisture with these tips:
- When you’re performing an activity that will cause you to sweat, wear a sweatband. Your hearing aids will stay quite dry because moisture can’t reach them.
- 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.
- Don’t bring your hearing aids in the water. Going for a swim? Nice! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before swimming. Naturally, most people already do this. So the real risk is the moisture in your ears that remains after you go swimming. Wearing a swim cap or earplugs when you’re swimming is a smart plan. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) quite dry.
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Have a microfiber towel nearby. You can use this to periodically dry your hearing aids. This stops moisture from building up when you aren’t watching.
Take steps to keep your hearing aids clean
The growth of bacteria is quickened 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:
- Routinely disinfect your hearing aids. Specialized antibacterial wipes are made for this.
- Store your hearing aids in a spot that’s cool and dry. Hearing aids, as a rule, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So don’t put them on your dashboard on a hot summer day. Alternatively, when you’re not wearing them, keep your hearing aids in a cool, dry spot.
- Watch out for the long-term accumulation of debris. As you’re sanitizing your hearing aids, you can also take the time to clean out any debris that may have accumulated. Sooner or later, it’s most likely also a good idea to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
Stay active, stay happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids will be there for you for a lifetime and they will improve your summer months especially. You can keep your hearing aids dry and in good working order whether you’re hiking, swimming, or just taking an evening stroll around your neighborhood.