You’re planning a very 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 ball game or two before going home to up some delicious dinner. Your schedule is going to be pretty full. And you want to be sure your hearing aids are up to the challenge.
Summer activities such as these can be tough on your hearing aids, but these little helpful devices can be protected without it halting your summer fun.
Summer hearing aid challenges
With hearing aids, each season will come with unique difficulties. Climate and weather are the leading challenges in the summer.
Summer-related challenges may include:
- Wind: A powerful enough wind can tug and pull at your hearing aids. And if you’re in a particularly dry environment, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
- Moisture: Whether it’s from swimming, humidity, rain, or simply sweat, moisture is just about always present during the summer. Moisture can be harmful to hearing aids so that can present a challenge.
- Debris, sand and dirt: During the summer you’re really active. But when you go to the beach, there’s a good possibility you could get some sand inside of your hearing aid, and that may cause problems.
Part of the reason why these problems are more likely to crop up during the summer is clear: you tend to be outside more. And when you spend more time outside, you’re more likely to encounter a powerful gust of wind or a flash rainstorm.
Keeping your hearing aids at optimum performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are designed to improve your quality of life, to make it possible for you to do more. So over the course of the summer, the majority of people want to wear their hearing aids as often as they can. Caring for your hearing aids by taking some extra steps can make that happen.
Take actions to keep your hearing aids dry
Water will wreak havoc on electronics and the more sophisticated the electronics, the worse the potential damage. Keep moisture at bay with these tips:
- When you’re doing something that will cause you to sweat, use a sweatband. This will help keep moisture out of your ears (and far from your hearing aids).
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Keep a microfiber towel nearby. That way, you can dry your hearing aids throughout the day. This stops wetness from accumulating when you aren’t watching.
- Don’t wear your hearing aids in the water. Going for a swim? Sweet! Don’t forget to take out your hearing aids before swimming. Naturally, most people already do this. So residual wetness in your ears after you get out of the water is the real concern. That’s why you should start thinking about using a swim cap and earplugs when you go swimming. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) nice and dry.
- Open the battery compartment on your hearing aids at night and let them air dry. This will help prevent damage from corrosion of the battery.
Take measures 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. Here are some guidelines:
- Store your hearing aids in a cool and dry place. That’s because hearing aids (generally) don’t like exposure to heat and direct sunlight. So don’t put them on your dashboard on the hottest day of summer. Instead, when you’re not using them, store your hearing aids in a cool, dry spot.
- Routinely disinfect your hearing aids. This can be done with specially produced antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
- 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 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. 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.