You’ve got an active summer planned. Plenty of beach time and lots of swimming no doubt. You’ll do some day-to-day running and then maybe attend a ball game or two before heading home to up some tasty dinner. You’re going to be busy! And you want to be sure your hearing aids are up to the challenge.
All of these experiences can present unique challenges for your hearing aids, but there are a few easy ways you can safeguard these little, helpful devices and enjoy your summer as well.
Summer hearing aid challenges
With hearing aids, each season will come with unique challenges. Climate and weather are the leading obstacles during the summer.
Here are a few summer related obstacles:
- Debris, sand and dirt: During the summer you’re very 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 issues.
- Moisture: Whether it’s from humidity, swimming, rain, or just sweat, moisture is nearly always present in the summer. That’s an issue because moisture can be a major issue for hearing aids.
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s powerful enough. And if you’re in an especially dry climate, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
Part of the reason why these issues are more common in the summer is clear: you’re usually outside more often. And you’re more likely to encounter a surprise rain storm or a strong wind when you’re outdoors so often.
How to keep your hearing aids working great all summer
Your hearing aids are made to allow you to do more, to improve your quality of life. So over the course of the summer, the majority of individuals want to use their hearing aids as frequently as they can. This means taking a few extra steps to take care of the technology and make sure your hearing aids keep working.
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 becomes). Protect against moisture with these tips:
- Air dry your hearing aids at night by opening the battery compartment. This will help prevent damage from corrosion of the battery.
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Drying your ears totally will help prevent the accidental transference of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Keep a microfiber towel handy. In that manner, you can dry out your hearing aids throughout the day. This stops wetness from accumulating 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 nice and dry because moisture can’t reach them.
- Don’t wear your hearing aids into the water. Beach day? Great! Don’t forget to take out your hearing aids before going into the water. Obviously, most people already do this. So the real danger is the wetness in your ears that lingers after you go into the water. That’s why you should start thinking about wearing a swim cap and earplugs when you go in the water. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) nice and dry.
Take steps to keep your hearing aids clean
Moisture and heat can both fuel the growth of bacteria. So you should also do a few things to make sure your hearing aids are staying clean during the summer months. Here are some tips:
- Store your hearing aids in a dry, cool place. That’s because hearing aids (as a general rule) don’t do well with exposure to direct sunlight and heat. So keep them off your dashboard on hot days. Alternatively, when you’re not using them, keep your hearing aids in a dry, cool place.
- Watch for the long-term build-up of debris. As you’re sanitizing your hearing aids, you can also take the time to clear away any debris that may have built-up. Eventually, it’s most likely also a good plan to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
- Disinfect your hearing aids on a regular basis. You can do this with specially produced antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
Be happy, remain active, hear well
Your hearing aids will help you for a lifetime and they will enhance your summer months especially. You can keep your hearing aids dry and in good working order whether you’re hiking, swimming, or simply taking an evening stroll around your neighborhood.
