You’ve got an active summer planned. Plenty of beach time and lots of swimming no doubt. You’ll enjoy some live entertainment, you’ll get plenty of exercise jogging or perhaps playing some tennis, then it’s time to get to the grill. You’re going to be busy! So it’s crucial that your hearing aids are prepared.
All of these experiences can present unique hazards for your hearing aids, but there are a few easy ways you can protect these little, helpful devices and enjoy your summer as well.
Difficulties of hearing aids during the summer
With hearing aids, each season will have distinctive challenges. In the summer, most of those tests are weather and climate related.
Here are a few summer related challenges:
- Moisture: During the summer, moisture is almost always a factor, whether from rain, sweat, swimming, or humidity. Moisture can do a number on hearing aids so that can present a problem.
- 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.
- Debris, sand and dirt: You’re active in the summer. But when you go to the beach, there’s a good possibility you could get some sand in your hearing aid, and that might cause issues.
Part of the reason why these problems are more likely to crop up during the summer is clear: you tend to be outdoors more often. And when you spend more time outside, you’re more likely to experience a strong 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 enhance your quality of life, to allow you to do more. So throughout the summer, most individuals want to use their hearing aids as often as they can. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking some extra 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 possible damage. Protect against moisture with these tips:
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Don’t swim while wearing your hearing aids. Beach day? Sweet! Just take out your hearing aids first. Of course, 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. Using a swim cap or earplugs while swimming is a good idea. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will remain quite dry.
- Keep a microfiber towel handy. You can use this to routinely dry your hearing aids. This stops wetness from building up when you aren’t watching.
- Air dry your hearing aids at night by opening the battery compartment. This will help counter damage from corrosion of the battery.
- Use a sweatband when you’re working out. Your hearing aids will stay nice and dry because sweat can’t reach them.
Take measures to keep your hearing aids clean
The growth of bacteria is fueled by heat and moisture. So you should also do a few things to ensure your hearing aids are remaining clean over the summer months. Here are some guidelines:
- Routinely sanitize your hearing aids. This can be accomplished with specially produced antibacterial and disinfectant wipes.
- Store your hearing aids in a cool and dry place. Hearing aids, generally speaking, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So keep them off your dashboard when it’s hot. Instead, when you’re not using them, keep your hearing aids in a dry, cool place.
- Watch out for the long-term accumulation of debris. You can take a few minutes to clear away any debris on your hearing aids while you sanitize them. Sometimes, a professional cleaning is necessary.
Be happy, stay active, hear well
Your hearing aids are made to help you all through your life, and that’s certainly true of the summer months. 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.
