You’re planning a really active summer. Plenty of beach time and lots of swimming for sure. You’ll take in 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 will be rather full. So it’s crucial that your hearing aids are ready.
Summer activities like these can be difficult on your hearing aids, but these little helpful devices can be safeguarded without it halting your summer fun.
Obstacles of hearing aids in the summer
With hearing aids, each season will have distinctive obstacles. Climate and weather are the biggest obstacles during the summer.
Summer-related challenges could include:
- Wind: A powerful enough wind can jerk and pull at your hearing aids. And if you’re in an extremely dry environment, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.
- Dirt and debris: You’re active in the summer. But when you hit the beach, there’s a good chance you could get some sand inside of your hearing aid, and that could cause issues.
- Moisture: Whether it’s from humidity, swimming, rain, or just sweat, moisture is nearly always present in the summer. Moisture can be harmful to hearing aids so that can present a challenge.
Part of the reason why these issues are more likely to crop up during the summer is self-evident: you tend to be outside more often. And when you spend more time outside, you’re more likely to experience a powerful gust of wind or a sudden rainstorm.
How to keep your hearing aids working great all summer
Your hearing aids are designed to improve your quality of life, to allow you to do more. So throughout the summer, most individuals want to use their hearing aids as often as they can. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking some additional steps can make that happen.
Take actions to keep your hearing aids dry
Water will wreak havoc on electronics and the more state-of-the-art the electronics, the worse the possible damage. Keep moisture at bay with these tips:
- Open the battery compartment on your hearing aids at night and allow them to air dry. This will help counter damage from corrosion of the battery.
- Dry your ears thoroughly. Drying your ears thoroughly will help prevent the unintentional transfer of 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 far from your hearing aids).
- Don’t wear your hearing aids into the water. Going swimming? Sweet! Just remove your hearing aids first. Obviously, this is common sense. So lingering moisture in your ears after you get out of the water is the real concern. That’s why you should start thinking about wearing a swim cap and earplugs when you go swimming. By doing this your ears and thus your hearing aids will remain nice and dry.
- Have a microfiber towel nearby. That way, you can dry your hearing aids throughout the day. In this way, you can prevent the build-up of wetness.
Take measures to keep your hearing aids clean
Heat and moisture can both hasten the growth of bacteria. During the summer particularly, take steps to keep your hearing aids clean. Here are some tips:
- Watch out for the long-term build-up of debris. You can take a few minutes to clear away any debris on your hearing aids while you sanitize them. Sooner or later, it’s probably also a good plan to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.
- Routinely sanitize 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 do well in the direct sunlight. So don’t put them on your dashboard on a hot summer day. Instead, make sure they’re tucked away someplace cool and dry when you’re not using them.
Be happy, remain active, hear well
Your hearing aids are made to help you throughout your life, and that’s certainly true of the summer season. So whether you’re planning on going for a swim in the lake, hiking up a mountain, or going for a walk around the neighborhood, there’s a way to be sure your hearing aids remain dry and keep working.