Summer is here, which means spending time outdoors and warm weather. However, for those who use hearing aids, summer can pose some challenges. When hearing aids devices are exposed to heat or moisture, they can be damaged.
During the summer, sweat and water are the two biggest problems of hearing aids, and extreme temperature changes can cause condensation and an increased proclivity to sweat. These are harmful to your hearing aids and may prevent them from functioning properly.
Damage could lead to distorted or poor sound quality, decreased battery life and irregular functionality.
Swimming And Water Sports
One of the best things to do on a hot summer day is to jump in the pool or have a play in the ocean. It is refreshing, cooling and is great exercise – but they are not good for your hearing aids. In fact, jumping in the water with your hearing aids is probably the worst thing that you can do for them.
Hearing aids are made up of a series of complex electronic parts, and as you will already know, electronics and water do not work well together. Before you get into the water, make sure that you take out your hearing aids and store them somewhere safe and sound.
Humidity
As we mentioned in the previous point, water and hearing aids are not a good combination, and it does not just mean submerging them in water. Excess moisture in the air and even sweat can cause irreparable damage to your hearing aids.
Humidity refers to the level of moisture in the air, and while you can’t do anything about it, there are ways that you can protect your hearing aid from it. When you take your hearing aid at night, give it a good wipe with a dry cloth and leave the battery door components open. This gives any condensation that may have built up the time to dry out.
You can also buy special dehumidifier boxes for your hearing aids and UV drying boxes. If you live somewhere particularly humid, you may want to consider buying a room dehumidifier. This will not only protect your hearing aids but is better for your overall health too.
Sand And Debris
Sand at the beach, grass from cutting the lawn, pollen floating about in the air, sunscreen and bug spray – these are all very bad news for your hearing aid. It does not mean that you have shut yourself away in a room for the summer months – far from it – but it does mean taking more precautions when it comes to your hearing aids. If you remove them at the beach, make sure that you store them somewhere dry and safe from the sand. When you do take them out, make sure your hands are clean and when you take them out for the night, inspect them carefully and clean them thoroughly.
Summertime can bring some challenges to hearing aid wearers, but with some care and attention, you can get through the summer months with your hearing aid intact.