You’re planning a really active summer. You’re certainly going to go to the beach and maybe go for a swim. You’ll enjoy some live entertainment, you’ll get plenty of exercise jogging or possibly playing some tennis, then it’s time to get to the grill. You’ll be busy! So it’s important that your hearing aids are ready.
Summer activities like 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 difficulties
With hearing aids, every season will come with unique difficulties. In the summer, many of those tests are weather and climate related.
Here are some summer related obstacles:
- Moisture: Whether it’s from humidity, swimming, rain, or simply sweat, moisture is nearly always present in the summer. That’s problematic because moisture can be a major issue for hearing aids.
- Dirt and debris: You’re active in the summer. But when you hit the beach, there’s a good chance you could get some sand inside of your hearing aid, and that might cause problems.
- 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.
In general, it’s fairly apparent why these problems are more prevalent in the summer months: you tend to be outside more often. And when you spend more time outside, you’re more likely to encounter a strong gust of wind or a sudden rainstorm.
Keeping your hearing aids at optimum performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are made to make it possible for you to do more, to enhance your quality of life. Most individuals who use hearing aids will want to use them as much as they can, particularly through the summer. This means taking a few extra steps to take care of the technology and make sure your hearing aids keep working.
Take actions to keep your hearing aids dry
Water will wreak havoc on electronics and the more state-of-the-art the electronics, the worse the potential damage. 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.
- Air dry your hearing aids while you sleep by opening the battery door. This will help keep the battery from corroding and will decrease damage.
- When you’re doing something that will cause you to sweat, wear a sweatband. Your hearing aids will stay nice and dry because sweat can’t reach them.
- Don’t swim with your hearing aids in your ears. Going for a swim? Great! Don’t forget to take out your hearing aids before going into the water. Naturally, 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 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 periodically dry your hearing aids. This stops moisture from accumulating when you aren’t watching.
Take measures to keep your hearing aids clean
Heat and moisture can both fuel the growth of bacteria. So you should also do a few things to ensure your hearing aids are remaining clean during the summer months. Here are some tips:
- Watch for the long-term accumulation of debris. You can take a few minutes to remove any debris on your hearing aids while you sanitize them. Sometimes, a professional cleaning is needed.
- Disinfect your hearing aids on a regular basis. Specialized antibacterial wipes are made for this.
- Store your hearing aids in a cool and dry spot. That’s because hearing aids (as a general rule) don’t like exposure to heat and direct sunlight. So keep them off your dashboard on hot days. Instead, make certain they’re tucked away someplace dry and cool when you aren’t wearing them.
Stay active, stay happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids will be there for you for a lifetime and they will enhance your summer months especially. So whether you’re planning on going for a swim in the lake, hiking over a mountain, or going for a walk around the neighborhood, there’s a way to ensure your hearing aids stay dry and keep working.
