Man holding grandson at family cookout waiting for grilled food to be done

You’ve got an active summer planned. Plenty of beach time and lots of swimming for sure. You’ll do some regular jogging and then maybe attend a ball game or two before heading home and grilling up some delicious dinner. Your schedule will be quite full. And you want to make sure your hearing aids are up to the challenge.

Summer activities like these can be tough on your hearing aids, but these little beneficial devices can be protected without it slowing your summer fun.

Obstacles of hearing aids in the summer

With hearing aids, every season will have distinctive challenges. Climate and weather are the greatest obstacles during the summer.

Here are some summer related obstacles:

  • Moisture: During the summer, moisture is almost always a factor, whether from sweat, rain, swimming, or humidity. That’s problematic because moisture can be a major issue for hearing aids.
  • Dirt and debris: You’re active during the summer. But when you hit the beach, there’s a good possibility you might get some sand in your hearing aid, and that may cause problems.
  • Wind: A strong enough wind can tug and pull at your hearing aids. And if you’re in an especially dry environment, wind can also introduce dust and debris into your hearing aids.

Part of the reason why these problems are more common during the summer is clear: you spend more time outside. And you’re more likely to encounter a sudden rain storm or a powerful wind when you’re outside so often.

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. The majority of people who wear hearing aids will want to use them as much as possible, especially during the summer. Taking care of your hearing aids by taking a few extra steps can make that happen.

Keeping your hearing aids dry

We’ve established that moisture is the enemy of a well-functioning hearing aid (the more advanced the electronics, the worse water becomes). Protect against moisture with these tips:

  • When you’re doing something that will cause you to sweat, wear a sweatband. Your hearing aids will stay quite dry because sweat can’t get to them.
  • Dry your ears thoroughly. Make sure you aren’t accidentally transferring moisture from your ears to your hearing aids.
  • Open the battery compartment on your hearing aids at night and allow them to air dry. This will help stop the battery from corroding and will prevent damage.
  • Don’t swim while wearing your hearing aids. Beach day? Sweet! Don’t forget to take out your hearing aids before swimming. Naturally, this is common sense. So lingering wetness in your ears after you get out of the water is the real concern. That’s why you should consider using a swim cap and earplugs when you go swimming. This can help keep your ears (and thus your hearing aids) nice and dry.
  • Have a microfiber towel nearby. You can use this to routinely dry your hearing aids. This stops moisture from building up when you aren’t paying attention.

Take measures to keep your hearing aids clean

Moisture and heat can both fuel the growth of bacteria. So you should also take a few steps to make sure your hearing aids are remaining clean over the summer months. Here are some tips:

  • Store your hearing aids in a place that’s dry and cool. Hearing aids, as a rule, don’t do well in the direct sunlight. So don’t store them on your dashboard on the hottest day of summer. Instead, make sure they’re nestled away somewhere cool and dry when you’re not using them.
  • Routinely disinfect your hearing aids. Specialized antibacterial wipes are made for this.
  • Watch out for the long-term build-up of debris. As you’re disinfecting your hearing aids, you can also take the time to clear away any debris that may have accumulated. Eventually, it’s probably also a good idea to have your hearing aids professionally cleaned.

Be happy, stay active, hear well

Your hearing aids are designed to accompany you throughout your life, and that’s definitely true of the summer months. 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.

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The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.
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