4 Summer Hearing Aid Care Tips

Summer is here, which means sunny days, warm weather and lots of time spent outside! Summer, on the other hand, can pose some challenges for those who use hearing aids.

When hearing aids are exposed to heat or moisture, they can be damaged. During the summer, sweat and water are the two biggest enemies of hearing aids and drastic temperature changes can cause condensation and an increased chance of sweating. 

All of these are harmful to your hearing aids and may cause them to malfunction. Damage could cause distorted or poor sound quality, decreased battery life and irregular functionality.

Here are four things that you can do to care for your hearing aids devices throughout the summer.

Dry Your Hearing Aids Out

Summer is a hot and humid season, which increases the amount of moisture in the air and on our bodies. Use a dry aid kit to help draw moisture out of your hearing aids when you take them out at night. If you do not have a dry aid kit, give them a thorough inspection before going to bed and wipe away any visible moisture. Leave the battery compartment door open as well when they are not in use. 

Clean Your Hearing Aids After a Day at the Beach

Sand from the beach can and other debris can get into your ears and into your hearing aid. Gently wipe down your hearing aids, earmold and domes with a small bristle brush to remove any dirt, dust or sand.

Take Your Hearing Aids Out Before Jumping in the Water

When you first got your hearing aids, one of the things that will have been drummed into you by your audiologist was do not get them wet. Water is the worst thing for hearing aids – despite their inconspicuous size, they are jam packed with delicate electronic circuitry and we all know that water and electronics is not good news. You are probably already in the habit of taking them out for bathing and showers, but it can be all too easy to forget and dive in the water. Make sure you take the case to store them in so that they do not get lost or stood on or left out in the direct sun – which is also not going to be good for your hearing aids.

Do Not Let Them Get Too Hot

You have no control over the temperature, so you need to take special measures to make sure they do not get too hot. Avoid being out in the direct sunlight in the hottest part of the day, usually between 11 am and 3 pm and try to stick to shaded areas or wear a wide brimmed hat if you do need to be out. When you do take them out, do not leave them lying about in the sun or in places like garages or cars, where temperatures can get very hot very quickly. 

While there are some extra challenges posed by the summer, it does not mean that you can’t enjoy everything that the warm weather has to offer.