You’re planning a very active summer. You’re certainly going to go to the beach and maybe take a swim. You’ll take in some live entertainment, you’ll get plenty of exercise jogging or perhaps playing some tennis, then it’s time to hit the grill. You’re going to be busy! And you want to ensure your hearing aids are up to the challenge.
Summer activities like these can be difficult on your hearing aids, but these little beneficial devices can be safeguarded without it slowing your summer fun.
Difficulties of hearing aids in the summer
Every season is going to present distinct obstacles with regards to your hearing aids. Climate and weather are the leading challenges during the summer.
Here are some summer related challenges:
- Debris, sand and dirt: In the summer you’re actually active. But when you go to the beach, there’s a good possibility you may get some sand inside of your hearing aid, and that might cause problems.
- Wind: A strong enough wind can tug and pull at your hearing aids. And if you’re in a particularly dry environment, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
- Moisture: In the summer, moisture is nearly always a factor, whether from rain, sweat, swimming, or humidity. Moisture can do a number on hearing aids so that can present a problem.
In general, it’s quite obvious why these problems are more common in the summer months: you tend to be outside more. 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 manufactured to make it possible for you to do more, to improve the quality of life. So over the course of the summer, the majority of individuals want to wear their hearing aids as often as they can. This means doing a few extra things to take care of the technology and make sure your hearing aids keep working.
Take actions to keep your hearing aids dry
We’ve established that moisture is the adversary of a well-functioning hearing aid (the more sophisticated the electronics, the worse water becomes). Protect against moisture with these tips:
- Use a sweatband when you’re exercising. This will help keep moisture out of your ears (and far from 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 decrease damage.
- Don’t swim while wearing your hearing aids. Going swimming? Great! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before swimming. Naturally, this is common sense. So lingering moisture in your ears after you get out of the water is the real concern. Wearing a swim cap or earplugs while swimming is a smart plan. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will remain nice and dry.
- Keep a microfiber towel nearby. In that manner, you can dry out your hearing aids all through the day. In this way, you can avoid the accumulation of wetness.
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
Routinely clean your hearing aids
Moisture and heat can both fuel the growth of bacteria. In the summer especially, take steps to keep your hearing aids clean. You can do the following:
- Store your hearing aids in a dry, cool place. Hearing aids, generally speaking, don’t do well in the direct sunlight. So keep them off of your dashboard when it’s hot. Alternatively, make certain they’re nestled away someplace dry and cool when you aren’t using them.
- Routinely disinfect your hearing aids. Specialized antibacterial wipes are available for this.
- Watch for the long-term build-up of debris. You can take a little time to get rid of any debris on your hearing aids while you sanitize 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 are designed to help you all through your life, and that’s certainly true of the summer season. 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.