You’re planning a really active summer. Plenty of beach time and lots of swimming no doubt. You’ll enjoy some live entertainment, you’ll get plenty of exercise jogging or maybe playing some tennis, then it’s time to hit the grill. You’re going to be busy! And you want to make sure your hearing aids are up to the task.
All of these experiences can present unique challenges for your hearing aids, but there are a few easy ways you can protect these little, helpful devices and enjoy your summer too.
Summer hearing aid difficulties
Each season will introduce unique difficulties with regards to your hearing aids. Climate and weather are the biggest challenges during the summer.
Summer-related challenges might include:
- Debris, sand and dirt: You’re active in the summer. But when you go to the beach, there’s a good chance you could get some sand in your hearing aid, and that could cause issues.
- Moisture: Whether it’s from swimming, humidity, rain, or simply sweat, moisture is just about always present in the summer. Moisture can be harmful to hearing aids so that can present a problem.
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s strong enough. And if you’re in an especially dry climate, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
Generally, it’s fairly apparent why these issues are more common during the summer months: you tend to be outside more. And you’re more likely to experience a sudden rain storm or a powerful wind when you’re outside so often.
Keeping your hearing aids at peak performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are made to improve your quality of life, to make it possible for you to do more. The majority of individuals who wear hearing aids will want to use them as much as they can, especially during the summer. This means taking a few extra steps to care for the technology and make sure your hearing aids keep working.
Take steps 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 is). Protect against moisture with these tips:
- Open the battery compartment on your hearing aids while you sleep and allow them to air dry. This will help counter damage caused by corrosion of the battery.
- Keep a microfiber towel handy. In that manner, you can dry out your hearing aids all through the day. In this way, you can prevent the build-up of wetness.
- When you’re doing something that will cause you to sweat, use 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.
- Don’t go swimming with your hearing aids in your ears. Going for a swim? Great! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before going into the water. Obviously, this is common sense. So the real danger is the moisture in your ears that lingers after you go swimming. Using a swim cap or earplugs while swimming is a good plan. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) nice and dry.
Regularly clean your hearing aids
The growth of bacteria is quickened by heat and moisture. So you should also take a few steps to ensure your hearing aids are remaining clean over the summer months. You can do the following:
- Store your hearing aids in a cool and dry place. That’s because hearing aids (as a general rule) don’t like exposure to heat and direct sunlight. So don’t put them on your dashboard on the hottest day of summer. Instead, when you’re not using them, keep your hearing aids in a dry, cool place.
- Sanitize your hearing aids on a regular basis. Specialized antibacterial wipes are made for this.
- Watch for the long-term accumulation of debris. You can take a few minutes to clear away any debris on your hearing aids while you disinfect them. Eventually, it’s probably also a good idea to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
Be happy, remain active, hear well
Your hearing aids will be there for you for a lifetime and they will improve your summer months especially. 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.