You’re planning a very active summer. Plenty of beach time and lots of swimming for sure. You’ll do some day-to-day jogging and then maybe take in a ball game or two before going home to up some delicious dinner. You’ll be busy! And you want to ensure your hearing aids are up to the challenge.
Each of these experiences can introduce unique challenges for your hearing aids, but there are some easy ways you can safeguard these little, helpful devices and enjoy your summer at the same time.
Summertime hearing aid challenges
Each season is going to introduce distinct obstacles when it comes to your hearing aids. During the summer, many of those tests are weather and climate related.
Summer-related obstacles may include:
- Moisture: Whether it’s from swimming, humidity, rain, or simply sweat, moisture is just about always present in the summer. Moisture can do a number on hearing aids so that can present a challenge.
- Wind: A strong enough wind can jerk and yank at your hearing aids. And if you’re in an especially dry environment, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
- Debris, sand and dirt: You’re active in the summer. But when you hit the beach, there’s a good chance you might get some sand in your hearing aid, and that may cause issues.
Part of the reason why these issues are more likely to crop up in 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.
How to keep your hearing aids in good working order all summer
Your hearing aids are designed to improve your quality of life, to allow you to do more. The majority of people who wear hearing aids will want to use them as much as possible, particularly through the summer. Taking care of 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 sophisticated the electronics, the worse the potential damage. Keep moisture at bay with these tips:
- Keep a microfiber towel nearby. In that manner, you can dry out your hearing aids all through the day. This stops moisture from building up when you aren’t paying attention.
- When you’re performing an activity that will cause you to sweat, use a sweatband. Your hearing aids will stay quite dry because moisture can’t reach them.
- Air dry your hearing aids while you sleep by opening the battery compartment. This will help stop the battery from corroding and will decrease damage.
- 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. Beach day? Great! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before swimming. Obviously, the majority of people already do this. So the real hazard is the wetness in your ears that remains after you go into the water. Wearing a swim cap or earplugs while swimming is a good plan. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) quite dry.
Regularly clean your hearing aids
Heat and moisture can both fuel the growth of bacteria. So you should also take a few steps to make sure your hearing aids are remaining clean during the summer months. You can do the following:
- Store your hearing aids in a dry, cool place. Hearing aids, generally speaking, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So keep them off of your dashboard on hot days. Alternatively, make certain they’re tucked away someplace dry and cool when you’re not wearing them.
- Don’t let debris build-up over time. You can take a little time to remove any debris on your hearing aids while you disinfect them. Sometimes, a professional cleaning is necessary.
- Routinely sanitize your hearing aids. Specialized antibacterial wipes are available for this.
Stay active, stay happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids will be there for 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.