
Swimming, boating, barbecuing: summer brings plenty of fun in the sun, and your hearing aids help amplify every moment. As you soak up all the season has to offer, it’s important to keep in mind that too much heat and moisture can damage the delicate components of your hearing devices. Don’t sweat it—you can still enjoy all your favorite summer pastimes by taking a few simple steps to protect and care for your hearing aids to help them last for years to come.
Picture this: It’s a beautiful summer day. You’re lounging by the pool, listening to sounds of laughter and splashing, when you decide to take a dip. As soon as you hit the water, you remember—you’re still wearing your hearing aids! Maybe you work up a sweat after a long morning of gardening under the hot sun, or happen to get caught in your grandkids’ lawn sprinkler fun.
Whether you’re at the pool, tending to the yard or at the mercy of little ones just out of the water, your hearing aids will inevitably come in contact with moisture this summer. While many hearing aids are designed to repel light moisture, an excessive exposure to water, humidity and sweat can cause damage, kill your batteries and invite unwanted bacteria growth. Having a game plan for proper hearing aid care will help you keep your devices in top shape as you enjoy your favorite summer activities.
Here are some common places to protect your hearing aids this summer:
There are a variety hearing aid tools specifically designed to protect from and eliminate moisture. Keep these accessories handy along with your sunglasses and sunscreen:
Models that sit outside the ear (BTE, RIC) tend to be the most vulnerable to moisture—as the electrical components are housed outside the ear—whereas custom models such as CIC and IIC sit far enough in the ear that they are shielded from rain, sweat, etc.
Most Miracle-Ear BTE and RIC hearing aids are water-resistant (custom models are not). However, water-resistant hearing aids are not the same as waterproof hearing aids. Though water-resistant models are designed to repel light moisture from sweat and rain, they are not designed to be submerged in water. Here’s how to keep your devices safe while enjoying water activities.
If you’re going in the water:
If you’re around water but not in it:
Follow these additional tips to keep your hearing aids clean and dry outdoors:
If you do accidentally get your hearing aids wet, don’t panic—they aren’t necessarily damaged beyond repair. Here’s what to do:
Spending some time in the sun won’t harm your hearing aids, but excessive heat (from extreme weather, leaving your hearing aids in direct sunlight, etc.) can damage internal components, melt external components and drastically reduce battery life.
Here are a few tips for keeping your hearing aids safe from heat:
Your hearing aids are a big investment, and you want them to last you for many years. Though summer weather can present a challenge to these high-tech devices, these steps will help you keep them functioning at peak performance, so you can enjoy all the wonderful sounds of the season. The better you take care of your hearing aids, the better they’ll take care of you.