Hearing Aids & Winter: What To Look Out For?

January 20, 2017

The movie ‘Frozen’ may have been a huge hit in the cinema however, when it comes to your hearing aids and the cold, trust us: you don’t want to ‘let it go’. To make sure you stay on top of hearing aid care this chilly season, we’ve compiled a list of dangers to be aware of.

1. Sleet, snow and rain!

While hearing aids won’t explode when exposed to a little water, if wet and moist for too long they can get damaged. When you’re going out this winter, simply pack a toque, ear muffs, or pull your hood up. Especially if you’re enjoying those winter sports, such as skiing, snowboarding, and sledding.

2. Fast Changing Temperature

When temperatures change dramatically in short periods of time, condensation can get trapped in the hearing aid. As temperature changes happen multiple times a day when we transition from the bitter cold outside to toasty temperatures inside, this is certainly something to be wary of.

Hearing-aids have been specifically designed to minimize the damage caused by condensation. However, there are still a few things you can do at home. For example, try not to store your hearing aids in the car. Extreme temperature changes in your car (cold when parked overnight and warm when in use) leads to condensation. If your hearing aid does stop working after you come inside from the cold, open the battery compartment to let the moisture escape and the battery dry out.

3.Ear Infections

During these frosty months, blood circulation slows down in the body. This means it’s easier to catch an infection from moisture and bacteria. These infections are especially uncomfortable for people with hearing aids.

To avoid contracting an ear infection stay up to date with your vaccinations, practice good hygiene, keeping your ears warm and covered, and keep the blood pumping through regular exercise. If you suspect an infection, go to a doctor as soon as possible to obtain antibiotics and clean it up!

If you’re having problems with your hearing aids, winter related or otherwise, our team of highly trained audiologists is happy to help. Just give us a call at 403-210-2482 to book an appointment. Check out our contact us page to learn more.