How can I care for my hearing aids in the summer?

June 16, 2017

Summer is just around the corner which means beaches, barbeques, sun-soaked vacations, waterfall chasing, pool parties and endless adventure! Technology requires special care during the summer months, and your hearing aids are no exception. Due to the added humidity in the air, the direct sunlight and the heat of the Okanagan summers, you’ll need to take extra care of your hearing aids when having your summer fun!

Here are our four summer tips when it comes to caring for your hearing aids.

Tip 1: Remove your hearing aids before swimming.

Moisture is one of your hearing aid’s worst enemies. Anytime you’re around water, it’s best to leave your hearing aids behind. However, it is important to consider your own safety. If you won’t be able to hear warnings, it might be safer to leave them in while at the pool or on the lake. If they do get wet, use a lint-free towel to dry them off, remove the battery and use a hearing aid dehumidifier to avoid damaging moisture.

Tip 2:  Protect them against sweat and humidity.

After a workout, remove your hearing aids and wipe them off. Even water-resistant sets are vulnerable to the bacteria which grows faster when it’s hot and humid. Use a hearing aid dehumidifier to remove damaging moisture from your hearing aids. This will protect your hearing aids and extend its life.  Ask your hearing professional about getting your set of hearing aids professionally cleaned more often in the summer as bacteria can creep up! 

Tip 3: Prepare travel accommodations.

Don’t let your hearing loss impact your summer vacation! While traveling, you may find yourself wearing your hearing aids longer than you normally would, and therefore you may go through batteries much quicker. Stock up on extra tubes, batteries and cleaning tools and keep them protected in a travel case.  Additionally, if you run out of batteries on vacation, you may not be able to buy new ones easily. It’s always a good idea to bring more than you think you’ll need. Now go ahead and book that road trip and hotel accommodation!

Tip 4: Don’t forget the sunscreen.

While it’s extremely important to protect your skin during those hot and sunny summer days, remember that sunscreen can actually damage your hearing aids. To avoid this, apply sunscreen to your ears and neck area with your hearing aids out, once the sunscreen has absorbed and set in, you can then put your hearing aids back in without worrying about wet sunscreen

If you have any questions or need help to care for your hearing aids this summer, do not hesitate to ask us at Academy Hearing. We want you to have a happy and awesome summer—let the fun begin!