You’ve got a lively summer planned. You’re obviously going to go to the beach and maybe take a swim. You’ll take in some live entertainment, you’ll get lots 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 essential that your hearing aids are ready.
Summer activities like these can be hard on your hearing aids, but these little useful devices can be safeguarded without it halting your summer fun.
Summertime hearing aid difficulties
With hearing aids, every season will come with unique challenges. Climate and weather are the biggest obstacles in the summer.
Summer-related obstacles might include:
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s powerful enough. And if you’re in a particularly 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 chance you might get some sand in your hearing aid, and that may cause issues.
- Moisture: Whether it’s from swimming, humidity, rain, or just sweat, moisture is just about always present in the summer. Moisture can do a number on hearing aids so that can present a problem.
Part of the reason why these problems are more common in the summer is clear: you tend to be outdoors more. And when you spend more time outside, you’re more likely to experience a strong gust of wind or a sudden rainstorm.
Keeping your hearing aids at optimum performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are manufactured to allow you to do more, to improve your quality of life. So over the course of the summer, most people want to use their hearing aids as frequently as they can. This means doing a few extra things to care for the technology and make sure your hearing aids continue working.
Keeping your hearing aids dry
Water will damage electronics and the more state-of-the-art the electronics, the worse the potential 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.
- Keep a microfiber towel nearby. You can use this to routinely dry your hearing aids. In this way, you can prevent the accumulation of wetness.
- Don’t swim while wearing your hearing aids. Beach day? Great! Don’t forget to take out your hearing aids before going into the water. Of course, the majority of individuals already do this. So the real risk is the wetness in your ears that remains after you go into the water. Wearing a swim cap or earplugs while swimming is a smart plan. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will stay quite dry.
- Air dry your hearing aids while you sleep by opening the battery compartment. This will help prevent damage caused by corrosion of the battery.
- When you’re doing something that will cause you to sweat, wear a sweatband. Your hearing aids will stay nice and dry because sweat can’t reach them.
Take measures to keep your hearing aids clean
Heat and moisture can both hasten 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. You can do the following:
- Sanitize your hearing aids on a regular basis. Specialized antibacterial wipes are made for this.
- Watch for the long-term accumulation of debris. You can take a few minutes to clear away any debris on your hearing aids while you disinfect them. Occasionally, a professional cleaning is necessary.
- Store your hearing aids in a dry, cool spot. That’s because hearing aids (generally) don’t like exposure to direct sunlight and heat. So keep them off of your dashboard when it’s hot. Instead, when you’re not wearing them, keep your hearing aids in a dry, cool spot.
Stay active, remain happy, keep hearing
Your hearing aids are made to help you all through your life, and that’s definitely true of the summer season. So whether you’re planning on swimming in the lake, hiking up a mountain, or taking a stroll around the neighborhood, there’s a way to make sure your hearing aids stay dry and keep working.