You’ve got an active summer planned. You’re definitely going to hit the beach and maybe go for a swim. You’ll enjoy some live entertainment, you’ll get lots of exercise jogging or possibly playing some tennis, then it’s time to get to the grill. Your schedule is going to be pretty full. So it’s important that your hearing aids are ready.
Summer activities like these can be tough on your hearing aids, but these little helpful devices can be safeguarded without it slowing your summer fun.
Summer hearing aid challenges
Each season will present distinct difficulties when it comes to your hearing aids. Climate and weather are the biggest obstacles in the summer.
Summer-related obstacles could include:
- Wind: Your hearing aids can be pushed and pulled around by the wind if it’s powerful enough. Depending on the environment, powerful winds can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aid.
- Debris, sand and dirt: You’re active during the summer. But when you go to the beach, there’s a good possibility you may get some sand inside of your hearing aid, and that could cause issues.
- Moisture: Whether it’s from humidity, swimming, rain, or simply sweat, moisture is nearly always present in the summer. That’s a problem because moisture can be a major issue for hearing aids.
Part of the reason why these problems are more likely to crop up in the summer is self-evident: you spend more time outdoors. 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 optimum performance through the summer
Your hearing aids are manufactured to make it possible for you to do more, to enhance your quality of life. So throughout the summer, the majority of individuals want to use their hearing aids as often as they can. Caring for your hearing aids by taking a few extra steps can make that happen.
Take measures to keep 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 bring your hearing aids in the water. Going for a swim? Nice! Don’t forget to remove your hearing aids before swimming. Naturally, most individuals already do this. So the real danger is the wetness in your ears that lingers after you go swimming. That’s why you should start thinking about wearing a swim cap and earplugs when you go in the water. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will stay quite dry.
- Have a microfiber towel handy. That way, you can dry out your hearing aids throughout the day. This stops wetness from accumulating when you aren’t paying attention.
- Air dry your hearing aids at night by opening the battery compartment. This will help stop the battery from corroding and will prevent damage.
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
- When you’re doing something that will cause you to sweat, wear a sweatband. This will help keep moisture out of your ears (and away from your hearing aids).
Routinely clean your hearing aids
Heat and moisture can both fuel the growth of bacteria. In the summer especially, take steps to keep your hearing aids clean. Here are some guidelines:
- Watch out for the long-term build-up of debris. You can take a little time to remove any debris on your hearing aids while you sanitize them. Sooner or later, it’s most likely also a good plan to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
- Store your hearing aids in a spot that’s cool and dry. That’s because hearing aids (generally) don’t do well with exposure to heat and direct sunlight. So don’t store them on your dashboard on a hot summer day. Instead, when you’re not wearing them, store your hearing aids in a cool, dry place.
- Sanitize your hearing aids regularly. Specialized antibacterial wipes are made for this.
Be happy, remain active, hear well
Your hearing aids will help you for a lifetime and they will improve 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.