You have a lively summer planned. You’re definitely going to go to the beach and maybe take a swim. You’ll do some day-to-day jogging and then maybe attend a ball game or two before going home and grilling up some tasty dinner. Your schedule will be pretty full. And you want to be sure your hearing aids are up to the challenge.
Summer activities such as these can be tough on your hearing aids, but these little beneficial devices can be safeguarded without it halting your summer fun.
Summertime hearing aid obstacles
With hearing aids, each season will have unique difficulties. In the summer, most of those challenges are weather and climate related.
Summer-related obstacles could include:
- Moisture: Whether it’s from swimming, humidity, rain, or just sweat, moisture is nearly always present in the summer. That’s a problem because moisture can be a major problem for hearing aids.
- Dirt and debris: During the summer you’re actually active. But sand in your hearing aid, such as beach sand, can lead to issues.
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s strong enough. And if you’re in an extremely dry environment, 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 self-evident: you spend more time outside. And when you spend more time outside, you’re more likely to encounter a powerful gust of wind or a sudden rainstorm.
Keeping your hearing aids at peak performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are designed to improve your quality of life, to make it possible for you to do more. So throughout the summer, most individuals want to use their hearing aids as frequently as they can. Caring for your hearing aids by taking a few additional steps can make that happen.
Take measures to keep your hearing aids dry
Water will damage electronics and the more sophisticated the electronics, the worse the possible damage. Keep moisture at bay with these tips:
- Don’t swim with your hearing aids in your ears. Beach day? Sweet! Don’t forget to take out your hearing aids before swimming. Obviously, this is common sense. So lingering wetness in your ears after you get out of the water is the real concern. That’s why you should start thinking about using a swim cap and earplugs when you go swimming. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) nice and dry.
- Have a microfiber towel nearby. You can use this to routinely dry your hearing aids. This stops moisture from building up when you aren’t watching.
- Thoroughly dry your ears. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- Wear a sweatband when you’re exercising. This will help keep moisture out of your ears (and far from your hearing aids).
- Air dry your hearing aids at night by opening the battery compartment. This will help prevent damage caused by corrosion of the battery.
Regularly clean your hearing aids
Heat and moisture can both fuel the growth of bacteria. So you should also do a few things to ensure your hearing aids are remaining clean over the summer months. You can do the following:
- Routinely disinfect your hearing aids. Specialized antibacterial wipes are available for this.
- Store your hearing aids in a dry, cool spot. Hearing aids, generally speaking, don’t handle direct sunlight very well. So don’t put them on your dashboard on a hot summer day. Alternatively, when you’re not using them, keep your hearing aids in a dry, cool spot.
- Don’t let debris build-up over time. As you’re sanitizing your hearing aids, you can also take the time to clean out any debris that might have accumulated. Sooner or later, it’s probably also a good idea to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
Be happy, remain active, hear well
Your hearing aids will be there for 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.