Hearing aids are essential medical devices that connect you to your loved ones and the world around you, which is why it’s important to protect them from harsh summer weather and the activities you enjoy to stay cool. Below we review the greatest risks summer poses for your hearing aids and how to keep them safe.
Heat
Both the casing of hearing aids and the batteries can be damaged by high temperatures. Because of this, you should avoid leaving your devices in hot cars or sunny windowsills. If you’re wearing your hearing aids outside on a hot day, be sure to wear a hat with a wide brim to keep them out of direct sunlight.
Humidity
Here is South Carolina, humidity is a major factor that can contribute to hearing aid damage. While there’s nothing you can do about the humidity outdoors, you can store your hearing aids in a dehumidifier at night to minimize risk of moisture damage. If you don’t have a dehumidifier, we recommend investing in one; in the meantime, store your devices with the battery doors open at night.
Sweat
Sweat is another source of moisture that can damage your hearing aids. Again, while you can’t control your sweat, you can control how and where you store your hearing aids at night to ensure it evaporates.
Pools
If you’re visiting Martin Luther King, Jr. Pool, it’s important to protect your hearing aids from chlorine-filled water. If you take your children and aren’t planning to swim, you can keep your hearing aids in, but sit far away from where you can be splashed. If you’re planning to swim, remove your hearing aids and leave them in the locker room.
Beaches
Beaches not only put you at risk of moisture damage, but also damage caused by sand and salt crystals infiltrating the device. When visiting the beach, bring a dry kit to store your hearing aids in, or cover them with sleeves made out of polyester and spandex.
Sunscreen & Bug Spray
Never apply sunscreen, bug spray or other aerosol sprays when wearing hearing aids. Make sure to remove your hearing aids when applying these substances, and wipe them off with a soft, dry cloth at the end of the day.
For more information about how to keep your hearing aids safe, call The Hearing & Balance Center today.