As a swimmer, you enjoy being in the water. When you were a kid, everyone said you were part fish because you liked to swim so much the pool was your second home. The water seems a little…louder… than normal today. And that’s when you notice you may have made a mistake: you wore your hearing aids into the pool. And you don’t know if it’s waterproof or not.
In the majority of scenarios, you’re right to be a little concerned. Hearing aids are frequently constructed with some amount of water resistance in mind. But a device that resists water is a great deal different than a device that’s waterproof.
Hearing aids and water resistance ratings
Keeping your hearing aids dry and clean is the best way to keep them in good working order. But some hearing aids are made so a little splash now and then won’t be a big deal. The IP rating is the official water resistance figure and identifies how water resistant a hearing aid is.
Here’s how the IP rating works: every hearing aid is given a two-digit number. The first number signifies the device’s resistance to dirt, dust, and other forms of dry erosion.
The number here that we’re really interested in though, is the second digit which represents the hearing aid’s resistance to water. The higher the number, the longer the device will last under water. So if a device has a rating of IP87 it will have really strong resistance to dry erosion and will be fine underwater for about 30 minutes.
Some modern hearing aids can be really water-resistant. But there aren’t any hearing aids presently available that are entirely waterproof.
Is water resistance worthwhile?
The intricate electronics inside your hearing aid case won’t mesh well with water. Typically, you’ll want to take out your hearing aids before you go swimming or hop into the shower or depending on the IP rating, sit outside in excessively humid weather. If you drop your hearing aid in the deep end of the pool, a high IP rating won’t do much good, but there are other situations where it can be useful:
- If you sweat significantly, whether at rest or when exercising (sweat, after all, is a type of water)
- There have been occasions when you’ve forgotten to take your hearing aid out before going into the rain or shower
- You have a passion for water sports (like boating or fishing); the spray from the boat may call for high IP rated hearing aids
- If you live in a really humid, rainy, or wet climate
This list is just the tip of the iceberg. Naturally, what degree of water resistance will be sufficient for your daily routine will only be able to be identified after a consultation.
Your hearing aids need to be taken care of
Your hearing aid is not maintenance-free just because it’s water resistant. Between sweat-filled runs, it will be in your best interest to ensure that you clean your hearing aids and keep them dry.
In some cases, that could mean obtaining a dehumidifier. But in most cases, a nice dry storage place will work fine (depending on where you live). And it will be necessary to thoroughly clean and remove any residue left behind by some moistures including sweat.
If your hearing aids get wet, what should you do?
If waterproof hearing aids don’t exist, should you panic when your devices get wet? Mostly because panicking never improves the situation anyway so it’s best to remain calm. But you need to give your hearing aids sufficient time to dry out entirely and if they have a low IP rating, we can help you determine if there is any damage.
How much damage your hearing aid has sustained can be estimated based on the IP rating. At least, try not to forget to take your hearing aids out before you go swimming. The drier your hearing devices remain, the better.
