You’ve got an active summer planned. Plenty of beach time and lots of swimming for sure. You’ll do some day-to-day jogging and then maybe attend a ball game or two before heading home to up some tasty dinner. You’re going to be busy! So it’s essential that your hearing aids are ready.
Summer activities such as these can be tough on your hearing aids, but these little beneficial devices can be safeguarded without it halting your summer fun.
Difficulties of hearing aids during the summer
Every season will present distinct difficulties with regards to your hearing aids. In the summer, many of those tests are weather and climate related.
Summer-related challenges may include:
- Debris, sand and dirt: You’re active during the summer. But sand inside of your hearing aid, like beach sand, can lead to problems.
- Moisture: Whether it’s from humidity, swimming, rain, or simply sweat, moisture is nearly always present in the summer. That’s an issue because moisture can be a huge problem for hearing aids.
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s strong enough. Depending on the environment, strong winds can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aid.
Generally, it’s pretty obvious why these issues are more prevalent in the summer months: you tend to be outdoors more. And you’re more likely to encounter a sudden rain storm or a strong wind when you’re outdoors so often.
How to keep your hearing aids in good working order all summer
Your hearing aids are made to enhance your quality of life, to allow you to do more. So over the course of the summer, most individuals want to wear their hearing aids as frequently as possible. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking a few additional steps can make that happen.
Take measures to keep 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). There are several ways you can keep moisture at bay:
- Don’t wear your hearing aids in the water. Beach day? Sweet! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before going into the water. Obviously, most individuals already do this. So lingering moisture in your ears after you get out of the water is the real issue. Wearing a swim cap or earplugs while swimming is a good idea. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) quite dry.
- Air dry your hearing aids at night by opening the battery compartment. This will help stop the battery from corroding and will decrease damage.
- Have a microfiber towel nearby. In that manner, you can dry out your hearing aids throughout the day. In this way, you can prevent the accumulation of wetness.
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Drying your ears thoroughly will help avoid the unintentional transfer of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- 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).
Take steps to keep your hearing aids clean
Heat and moisture can both hasten the growth of bacteria. During the summer especially, take steps to keep your hearing aids clean. Here are some guidelines:
- Store your hearing aids in a place that’s dry and cool. Hearing aids, generally speaking, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So keep them off of your dashboard on hot days. Instead, when you’re not using them, store your hearing aids in a cool, dry place.
- Sanitize your hearing aids regularly. Specialized antibacterial wipes are made for this.
- Don’t let debris accumulate over time. You can take a little time to remove 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.
Be happy, stay active, hear well
Your hearing aids are made to accompany you throughout your life, and that’s certainly true of the summer season. You can keep your hearing aids dry and in good working order whether you’re hiking, swimming, or just taking an evening stroll around your neighborhood.