The summer months offer a wealth of exciting experiences, thrilling outdoor adventures, and wonderful experiences that create lifelong memories. Whether you’re hanging out by the pool, attending summer concerts, hiking trails, or simply enjoying backyard cookouts, your hearing aids play a vital role in keeping you connected. Warmer temperatures and outdoor settings can present distinct difficulties for people who rely on hearing aids. Guaranteeing your devices function smoothly throughout the warmer months requires a solid grasp of proper maintenance and upkeep techniques specifically adapted for the summer season.
Common summer obstacles for hearing aid users
Each season presents its own challenges for hearing aid wearers, and summer’s warm, often humid conditions can put your devices in jeopardy. Here are some common problems you might encounter during the summer months:
Humidity and moisture
Sweat, rain, and water activities raise moisture exposure for hearing aids. High humidity levels can seep into delicate electronic components, potentially creating malfunctions or corrosion. Even modest amounts of moisture within your devices can impact sound quality or damage them permanently.
Wind and outside elements
Strong breezes aren’t just an aggravation, they can displace hearing aids from your ears or present dust, sand, and debris into sensitive parts. Engaging in outdoor pursuits such as gardening, visiting the beach, or playing sports might expose your hearing aids to dust and debris that can impact how well they work.
Heat and sun exposure
Exposing hearing aids to direct sunlight or high temperatures, like keeping them on a car dashboard, can result in overheating, decreased battery life, or distortion of plastic parts. Extreme heat speeds up wear and tear and reduces device lifespan.
Summer guidelines for protecting your hearing aids
By embracing a handful of helpful habits, you can ensure that your hearing aids stay secure, moisture-free, and functioning efficiently throughout the summer, regardless of your activities.
1. Shield your hearing aids from water
- Remove Before Swimming or Showering: Always remove your hearing aids before swimming, bathing, or any water exposure. To prevent water from entering into your ears, think about using swim caps or waterproof earplugs.
- After being exposed to moisture, be certain to gently dry your devices using a soft microfiber cloth. Steer clear of using heat-producing devices such as hair dryers for drying purposes.
- To reduce moisture build-up, leave the battery compartments open and place the hearing aids in a drying case or dehumidifying device for several hours or overnight, allowing them to dry out completely.
2. Control perspiration during exercise
- Think about using sweatbands or headbands to absorb excess sweat and shield your ears and hearing devices while working out or doing tasks outside.
- Keep Ears Clean and Dry: Routinely dry your ears completely before reinserting hearing aids to avoid moisture transfer.
3. Maintain cleanliness and hygiene
- Daily Maintenance: To prevent bacterial accumulation triggered by moisture and body heat, apply a day-to-day cleaning routine of gently wiping your hearing aids with specialized disinfectant wipes made for electronic devices and hearing instruments.
- Remove Debris: Inspect your devices often for dust, dirt, or earwax buildup and clean accordingly. Routine cleanings performed by your hearing professional every couple of months can help prevent permanent harm.
- Appropriate Storage: Keep your hearing aids in a cool, dry place when not in use. Refrain from leaving them exposed to sunlight or hot temperatures.
4. Keep an eye on device function and get professional help
If you notice any changes in sound quality, feedback, or battery drainage during summer months, don’t hesitate to consult your hearing care professional. They are able to perform essential upkeep or repairs in order to ensure that your hearing aids work effectively.
Have a stress-free summer with well-maintained hearing aids.
Summer is a time for creating long lasting experiences, not for stressing about your hearing devices. By being mindful and taking simple steps to safeguard your devices, you can ensure they can endure hot temperatures, moisture, and outdoor conditions. This will allow you to enjoy clear sound while experiencing conversations, bird songs, and water splashes.
If you’re unsure about the best way to safeguard your hearing aids or need professional maintenance, schedule an appointment today. Make the most of your summer with the confidence that your hearing aids can keep up with every thrilling experience.