You’ve got an active summer planned. Plenty of beach time and lots of swimming no doubt. You’ll do some day-to-day 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.
Summer activities like these can be tough on your hearing aids, but these little useful devices can be protected without it slowing your summer fun.
Summertime hearing aid challenges
Every season will present distinct challenges with regards to your hearing aids. In the summer, many of those tests are weather and climate related.
Summer-related challenges may include:
- Dirt and debris: In the summer you’re very active. But sand inside of your hearing aid, such as beach sand, can result in issues.
- Moisture: Whether it’s from swimming, humidity, rain, or just sweat, moisture is nearly always present in the summer. That’s a problem because moisture can be a huge problem for hearing aids.
- 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.
Generally, it’s quite apparent why these issues are more common during the summer months: you’re usually outside more. And you’re more likely to encounter a sudden rain storm or a strong wind when you’re outdoors so often.
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 people who wear hearing aids will want to use them as much as they can, particularly during the summer. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking a few extra steps can make that happen.
Take steps to keep your hearing aids dry
Water will wreak havoc on electronics and the more sophisticated the electronics, the worse the potential damage. There are a couple of ways you can protect against moisture:
- Don’t bring your hearing aids into the water. Going swimming? Great! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before going into the water. Naturally, most people already do this. So residual wetness in your ears after you get out of the water is the real concern. That’s why you should start thinking about wearing a swim cap and earplugs when you go swimming. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will stay nice and dry.
- Wear a sweatband when you’re exercising. Your hearing aids will stay quite dry because sweat can’t reach them.
- Have a microfiber towel handy. You can use this to periodically dry your hearing aids. In this way, you can avoid the accumulation of wetness.
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Drying your ears thoroughly will help avoid the accidental transfer of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Air dry your hearing aids at night by opening the battery compartment. This will help stop the battery from corroding and will prevent damage.
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 make sure your hearing aids are staying clean during the summer months. You can do the following:
- Sanitize your hearing aids on a regular basis. You can do this with specially produced antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
- Don’t let debris build-up over time. You can take a little time to clear away any debris on your hearing aids while you disinfect them. Sometimes, a professional cleaning is needed.
- Store your hearing aids in a spot that’s dry and cool. Hearing aids, as a rule, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So don’t put them on your dashboard on a hot summer day. Instead, when you’re not using them, keep your hearing aids in a dry, cool place.
Be happy, stay active, hear well
Your hearing aids are made to help you all through your life, and that’s definitely true of the summer season. There’s a way to keep your hearing aids dry and in good working order whether you’re hiking, swimming, or just taking an evening stroll around your neighborhood.
