You have a lively summer planned. Some beach time and lots of swimming for sure. You’ll do some day-to-day jogging and then maybe take in a ball game or two before heading home and grilling up some tasty dinner. You’ll be busy! And you want to make sure your hearing aids are up to the task.
All of these activities can introduce 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.
Challenges of hearing aids during the summer
Each season is going to introduce unique challenges with regards to your hearing aids. In the summer, most of those challenges are weather and climate related.
Summer-related challenges might include:
- Moisture: In the summer, moisture is nearly always present, whether from rain, sweat, swimming, or humidity. That’s an issue because moisture can be a major problem for hearing aids.
- 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 in the summer. But sand in your hearing aid, like beach sand, can cause problems.
In general, it’s quite obvious why these issues are more prevalent during the summer months: you spend more time outdoors. And you’re more likely to encounter 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 designed to improve your quality of life, to make it possible for you to do more. So throughout the summer, the majority of individuals want to use their hearing aids as often as possible. Caring for your hearing aids by taking some additional 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 possible damage. Keep moisture at bay with these tips:
- Keep a microfiber towel nearby. That way, you can dry your hearing aids all through the day. In this way, you can prevent the accumulation of moisture.
- Open the battery compartment on your hearing aids while you sleep and allow them to air dry. This will help prevent damage caused by corrosion of the battery.
- Don’t wear your hearing aids in the water. Beach day? Sweet! Don’t forget to take out your hearing aids before going into the water. Obviously, this is common sense. So residual wetness in your ears after you get out of the water is the real concern. Wearing a swim cap or earplugs while swimming is a smart idea. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will remain nice and dry.
- When you’re performing an activity that will cause you to sweat, wear a sweatband. This will help keep sweat out of your ears (and away from your hearing aids).
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
Regularly clean your hearing aids
Heat and moisture can both fuel the growth of bacteria. In the summer particularly, take steps to keep your hearing aids clean. You can do the following:
- Don’t let debris accumulate over time. You can take a few minutes to remove any debris on your hearing aids while you sanitize them. Eventually, it’s probably also a good plan to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
- Routinely sanitize your hearing aids. Specialized antibacterial wipes are available for this.
- Store your hearing aids in a place that’s cool and dry. Hearing aids, as a rule, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So keep them off your dashboard on hot days. Alternatively, make certain they’re nestled away somewhere cool and dry when you aren’t using them.
Stay active, remain happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids will be there for you for a lifetime and they will enhance 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 simply taking an evening stroll around your neighborhood.