You’re planning a really active summer. Plenty of beach time and lots of swimming for sure. You’ll enjoy some live entertainment, you’ll get lots of exercise jogging or maybe playing some tennis, then it’s time to hit the grill. Your schedule is going to be pretty full. So it’s essential that your hearing aids are ready.
All of these experiences can introduce unique challenges for your hearing aids, but there are some simple ways you can protect these tiny, helpful devices and enjoy your summer as well.
Summer hearing aid challenges
Every season is going to introduce distinct difficulties when it comes to your hearing aids. Climate and weather are the leading obstacles during the summer.
Summer-related challenges could include:
- 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 challenge.
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s strong enough. Depending on the climate, strong winds can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aid.
- Debris, sand and dirt: During the summer you’re actually active. But when you go to the beach, there’s a good possibility you may get some sand inside of your hearing aid, and that may cause problems.
For the most part, it’s quite obvious why these issues are more common during the summer months: you spend more time outdoors. 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 made to enhance your quality of life, to make it possible for you to do more. So throughout the summer, most individuals want to use their hearing aids as often as they can. Taking care of 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 enemy of a well-functioning hearing aid (the more advanced the electronics, the worse water becomes). Protect against moisture with these tips:
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Drying your ears completely will help prevent the accidental transference of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Don’t swim while wearing your hearing aids. Going swimming? Sweet! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before swimming. Obviously, the majority of individuals already do this. So the real hazard is the wetness in your ears that lingers after you go swimming. Wearing a swim cap or earplugs when you’re swimming is a smart idea. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) nice and dry.
- Have a microfiber towel nearby. You can use this to routinely dry your hearing aids. In this way, you can avoid the accumulation of wetness.
- When you’re doing something that will cause you to sweat, use a sweatband. Your hearing aids will stay quite dry because moisture can’t reach them.
- Open the battery compartment on your hearing aids while you sleep and allow them to air dry. This will help stop the battery from corroding and will prevent damage.
Routinely clean your hearing aids
The growth of bacteria is quickened by heat and moisture. So you should also do a few things to make sure your hearing aids are remaining clean during the summer months. You can do the following:
- Watch for the long-term accumulation of debris. As you’re sanitizing your hearing aids, you can also take the time to clear away any debris that might have built-up. Sometimes, a professional cleaning is necessary.
- Sanitize your hearing aids on a regular basis. This can be accomplished with specially produced antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
- Store your hearing aids in a cool and dry spot. Hearing aids, as a rule, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So keep them off of your dashboard when it’s hot. Instead, when you’re not using them, store your hearing aids in a dry, cool place.
Stay active, remain happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids will help you for a lifetime and they will improve your summer months especially. So whether you’re planning on going for a swim in the lake, hiking up a mountain, or taking a stroll around the neighborhood, there’s a way to ensure your hearing aids stay dry and keep working.