You have a lively summer planned. Plenty of beach time and lots of swimming for sure. You’ll do some day-to-day jogging and then maybe take in a baseball game or two before going home and grilling up some delicious dinner. Your schedule is going to be rather full. So it’s important that your hearing aids are prepared.
Each of these activities can present unique risks for your hearing aids, but there are some simple ways you can protect these little, helpful devices and enjoy your summer at the same time.
Difficulties of hearing aids in the summer
Each season is going to introduce distinct difficulties with regards to your hearing aids. Climate and weather are the biggest obstacles in the summer.
Summer-related challenges may include:
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s powerful enough. Depending on the climate, strong winds can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aid.
- Moisture: Whether it’s from humidity, swimming, rain, or simply sweat, moisture is just about always present during the summer. Moisture can do a number on hearing aids so that can present a problem.
- Debris, sand and dirt: You’re active in the summer. But sand in your hearing aid, like beach sand, can result in problems.
Generally, it’s fairly obvious why these issues are more prevalent during the summer months: 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 sudden rainstorm.
How to keep your hearing aids in good working order all summer
Your hearing aids are made to enhance your quality of life, to allow you to do more. Most people who use hearing aids will want to use them as much as possible, particularly during the summer. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking some extra steps can make that happen.
Keeping 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). There are a couple of ways you can keep moisture at bay:
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Drying your ears totally will help prevent the accidental transfer of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Have a microfiber towel nearby. That way, you can dry out your hearing aids throughout the day. In this way, you can avoid the build-up of wetness.
- Don’t wear your hearing aids in the water. Going swimming? Nice! Just remove your hearing aids first. Obviously, the majority of people already do this. So residual wetness in your ears after you get out of the water is the real issue. Using a swim cap or earplugs when you’re swimming is a smart idea. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) quite dry.
- Air dry your hearing aids while you sleep by opening the battery compartment. This will help stop the battery from corroding and will prevent damage.
- When you’re performing an activity that will cause you to sweat, wear a sweatband. This will help keep sweat out of your ears (and far from your hearing aids).
Regularly clean your hearing aids
The growth of bacteria is quickened by heat and moisture. So you should also do a few things to make sure your hearing aids are staying clean over the summer months. Here are some guidelines:
- Store your hearing aids in a place that’s dry and cool. That’s because hearing aids (generally) don’t do well with exposure to heat and direct sunlight. So keep them off your dashboard on hot days. Instead, make sure they’re nestled away somewhere dry and cool when you’re not wearing them.
- Routinely disinfect your hearing aids. This can be accomplished with specially made antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
- 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. Sooner or later, it’s probably also a good plan to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
Be happy, remain active, hear well
Your hearing aids are made to accompany 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.