You’ve got an active summer planned. You’re obviously going to hit the beach and maybe go for a swim. You’ll do some regular running and then maybe attend a baseball game or two before going home and grilling up some delicious dinner. You’re going to be busy! So it’s crucial that your hearing aids are prepared.
Each of these activities can present 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.
Summer hearing aid obstacles
Every season will present unique difficulties when it comes to your hearing aids. In the summer, many of those challenges are weather and climate related.
Summer-related challenges might include:
- Debris, sand and dirt: During the summer you’re really active. But sand inside of your hearing aid, like beach sand, can cause problems.
- Wind: A powerful enough wind can tug and pull at your hearing aids. Depending on the environment, strong winds can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aid.
- Moisture: During the summer, moisture is nearly always a factor, whether from rain, sweat, swimming, or humidity. Moisture can be harmful to hearing aids so that can present a problem.
Part of the reason why these problems are more likely to crop up in the summer is self-evident: you’re usually outdoors more often. 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 peak performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are made to allow you to do more, to improve your quality of life. So throughout the summer, the majority of individuals want to wear their hearing aids as frequently as they can. This means taking a few extra steps to care for the technology and make sure your hearing aids continue working.
Take steps 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 becomes). There are a couple of ways you can protect against moisture:
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Don’t wear your hearing aids in the water. Beach day? Sweet! Don’t forget to take out your hearing aids before swimming. Obviously, this is common sense. So the real risk is the wetness in your ears that lingers after you go into the water. Wearing a swim cap or earplugs while swimming is a smart idea. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) nice and dry.
- 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.
- Keep a microfiber towel handy. That way, you can dry out your hearing aids all through the day. This stops wetness from accumulating when you aren’t watching.
- Wear a sweatband when you’re working out. This will help keep moisture out of your ears (and far from your hearing aids).
Take steps to keep your hearing aids clean
Moisture and heat can both fuel the growth of bacteria. So you should also do a few things to make sure your hearing aids are staying clean during the summer months. You can do the following:
- Routinely sanitize your hearing aids. This can be done with specially made antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
- Store your hearing aids in a spot that’s dry and cool. That’s because hearing aids (as a general rule) don’t do well with exposure to heat and direct sunlight. So keep them off of your dashboard on hot days. Instead, when you’re not wearing them, store your hearing aids in a cool, dry spot.
- Watch for the long-term build-up of debris. As you’re disinfecting your hearing aids, you can also take the time to clear away any debris that might have built-up. Sooner or later, it’s most likely also a good idea to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
Be happy, remain active, hear well
Your hearing aids are made to accompany you throughout your life, and that’s definitely true of the summer months. So whether you’re planning on going for a swim in the lake, hiking up a mountain, or taking a walk around the neighborhood, there’s a way to make sure your hearing aids remain dry and keep working.