You’re planning a really active summer. You’re obviously going to hit the beach and maybe take a swim. You’ll do some regular running and then maybe attend a baseball game or two before heading home to up some delicious dinner. Your schedule will be rather full. And you want to be sure your hearing aids are up to the task.
Summer activities like these can be hard on your hearing aids, but these little beneficial devices can be protected without it slowing your summer fun.
Summertime hearing aid challenges
With hearing aids, every season will have unique obstacles. Climate and weather are the leading challenges during the summer.
Here are a few summer related challenges:
- Moisture: In the summer, moisture is nearly always present, whether from rain, sweat, swimming, or humidity. That’s problematic because moisture can be a huge problem 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.
- Dirt and debris: You’re active in the summer. But sand inside of your hearing aid, like beach sand, can lead to problems.
Part of the reason why these issues are more likely to crop up in the summer is clear: you spend more time outdoors. 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. So over the course of the summer, most people want to use their hearing aids as often as possible. Caring for your hearing aids by taking some extra steps can make that happen.
Keeping your hearing aids dry
Water will damage electronics and the more advanced the electronics, the worse the potential damage. Protect against moisture with these tips:
- Don’t wear your hearing aids into the water. Beach day? Sweet! Just take out your hearing aids first. Of course, most individuals already do this. So lingering moisture in your ears after you get out of the water is the real concern. 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 remain quite dry.
- Have a microfiber towel handy. In that manner, you can dry out your hearing aids all through the day. In this way, you can prevent the accumulation of moisture.
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Drying your ears totally will help prevent the accidental transference of moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Use a sweatband when you’re exercising. Your hearing aids will stay quite dry because sweat can’t get to them.
- Open the battery compartment on your hearing aids at night and let them air dry. This will help prevent damage from corrosion of the battery.
Take measures to keep your hearing aids clean
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 staying clean over the summer months. Here are some guidelines:
- Sanitize your hearing aids on a regular basis. This can be accomplished with specially made antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
- Don’t let debris accumulate over time. You can take a few minutes 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.
- Store your hearing aids in a place that’s cool and dry. That’s because hearing aids (as a general rule) don’t like exposure to heat and direct sunlight. So don’t store them on your dashboard on a hot summer day. Instead, make certain they’re nestled away someplace cool and dry when you aren’t wearing them.
Be happy, remain active, hear well
Your hearing aids will be there for you for a lifetime and they will improve your summer months especially. So whether you’re planning on swimming in the lake, hiking over a mountain, or taking a walk around the neighborhood, there’s a way to make sure your hearing aids stay dry and keep working.