You’re planning a very active summer. Some beach time and lots of swimming no doubt. You’ll take in some live entertainment, you’ll get plenty of exercise jogging or possibly playing some tennis, then it’s time to hit the grill. Your schedule is going to be quite full. So it’s important that your hearing aids are ready.
All of these experiences can introduce unique risks for your hearing aids, but there are a few simple ways you can protect these little, helpful devices and enjoy your summer as well.
Summertime hearing aid obstacles
Every season is going to present distinct challenges with regards to your hearing aids. During the summer, most of those challenges are weather and climate related.
Here are a few summer related challenges:
- Moisture: In the summer, moisture is nearly always present, whether from sweat, rain, swimming, or humidity. That’s an issue because moisture can be a major issue for hearing aids.
- Debris, sand and dirt: You’re active during the summer. But when you go to the beach, there’s a good possibility you could get some sand in your hearing aid, and that could cause issues.
- Wind: A powerful enough wind can tug and pull at your hearing aids. And if you’re in a particularly dry climate, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
Part of the reason why these problems are more common during the summer is clear: you spend more time outside. And when you spend more time outside, you’re more likely to experience a powerful gust of wind or a flash rainstorm.
Keeping your hearing aids at peak performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are made to allow you to do more, to improve your quality of life. Most individuals who use hearing aids will want to use them as much as they can, particularly during the summer. Caring for your hearing aids by taking some additional steps can make that happen.
Keeping your hearing aids dry
Water will wreak havoc on electronics and the more advanced the electronics, the worse the potential damage. Protect against moisture with these tips:
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Drying your ears totally will help avoid the accidental transference of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Don’t bring your hearing aids in the water. Beach day? Nice! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before swimming. Naturally, this is common sense. So the real danger is the wetness in your ears that lingers after you go into the water. Wearing a swim cap or earplugs when you’re swimming is a good plan. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will stay quite dry.
- Wear a headband when you’re working out. This will help keep sweat out of your ears (and away from your hearing aids).
- Air dry your hearing aids at night by opening the battery door. This will help counter damage from corrosion of the battery.
- Keep a microfiber towel handy. That way, you can dry out your hearing aids all through the day. This stops wetness from accumulating when you aren’t paying attention.
Routinely clean your hearing aids
The growth of bacteria is quickened by moisture and heat. In the summer especially, take measures to keep your hearing aids clean. You can do the following:
- Sanitize your hearing aids regularly. This can be done with specially made antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
- Store your hearing aids in a cool and dry spot. Hearing aids, generally speaking, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So keep them off your dashboard when it’s hot. Instead, when you’re not wearing them, store your hearing aids in a dry, cool spot.
- Don’t let debris build-up over time. As you’re disinfecting your hearing aids, you can also take the time to clean out any debris that might have accumulated. Sometimes, a professional cleaning is necessary.
Be happy, remain active, hear well
Your hearing aids will help you for a lifetime and they will improve your summer months especially. 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.