You’re planning a really active summer. Plenty of beach time and lots of swimming no doubt. You’ll do some day-to-day running and then maybe take in a baseball game or two before going home and grilling up some tasty dinner. You’re going to be busy! And you want to make sure 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 protect these little, helpful devices and enjoy your summer at the same time.
Summertime hearing aid challenges
Every season is going to present unique obstacles with regards to your hearing aids. In the summer, many of those challenges are weather and climate related.
Summer-related challenges might include:
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s strong enough. Depending on the environment, powerful winds can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aid.
- Moisture: During the summer, moisture is almost always a factor, whether from sweat, rain, swimming, or humidity. That’s an issue because moisture can be a huge issue for 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 could cause issues.
For the most part, it’s pretty apparent why these problems are more prevalent in the summer months: you spend more time outside. And you’re more likely to encounter a surprise rain storm or a powerful wind when you’re outside so often.
Keeping your hearing aids at optimum performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are manufactured to make it possible for you to do more, to enhance your quality of life. So throughout the summer, the majority of individuals want to use their hearing aids as frequently as possible. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking some extra steps can make that happen.
Keeping your hearing aids dry
Water will wreak havoc on electronics and the more state-of-the-art the electronics, the worse the potential damage. Keep moisture at bay with these tips:
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Drying your ears totally will help avoid the unintentional transfer of 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 keep the battery from corroding and will prevent damage.
- Keep a microfiber towel nearby. You can use this to periodically dry your hearing aids. In this way, you can prevent the build-up of moisture.
- Don’t wear your hearing aids in the water. Beach day? Sweet! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before swimming. Naturally, this is common sense. So the real risk is the moisture in your ears that remains after you go into the water. That’s why you should consider using a swim cap and earplugs when you go swimming. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) nice and dry.
- Use a sweatband when you’re exercising. Your hearing aids will stay quite dry because moisture can’t get to them.
Regularly clean your hearing aids
Heat and moisture can both hasten the growth of bacteria. During the summer particularly, take steps to keep your hearing aids clean. You can do the following:
- Watch out for the long-term accumulation of debris. You can take a few minutes to clear away any debris on your hearing aids while you disinfect them. Eventually, it’s most likely also a good plan to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
- 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 direct sunlight and heat. So keep them off of your dashboard on hot days. Alternatively, make sure they’re tucked away someplace dry and cool when you aren’t wearing them.
- Routinely sanitize your hearing aids. Specialized antibacterial wipes are available for this.
Stay active, remain happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids will be there for you for a lifetime and they will improve your summer months especially. So whether you’re planning on swimming in the lake, hiking over a mountain, or going for a stroll around the neighborhood, there’s a way to be sure your hearing aids remain dry and keep working.