Sports and Hearing Aids

Hearing loss doesn’t mean you must give up the sports you love.  Being physically active is good for the mind and body, no matter your age.  Playing sports while you wear hearing aids isn’t a problem. You just need to be prepared.

Don’t Let Hearing Aids Work Up a Sweat

If you are going to be physically active, you are going to sweat. Even if you play winter sports, you know you sweat.  But sweat is dangerous and damaging to your hearing aids, so here is how to protect them.

Wear a headband to absorb as much sweat as possible.  Headbands do a banging job of absorbing sweat before it reaches your hearing aids.  There are even head bands made to fit over hearing aids.  The Hearing Aid Sweatband fits directly over your behind-the-ear style hearing aid.  These little hearing aid sweat bands are worn in addition to your regular sweatband and will protect your hearing aids from moisture and debris. 

Use a dehumidifier box at night.  This is well worth the investment if you play sports or are active outside.  They are also great if you live in a humid environment.  These boxes allow you to dry out the places in your hearing aids that you can’t reach with regular cleaning.  Treat your high performance hearing aids to a little TLC each night.  While you sleep, the dehumidifier will dry moisture and earwax.

Literally Keep Them Off the Field

Hearing aids won’t disqualify you from playing contact sports.  Just make sure your hearing aids don’t end up in foul territory when you compete.  Hitting, jostling, tackling or any other violent move can knock your hearing aids lose and land them on the field.  Secure your hearing aids with a sport clip.  These devices attach your hearing aids to your clothing or uniform.  Even if your aid is knocked lose, it won’t hit the ground and you won’t lose it.  There are other models that attach from the hearing aid and wrap around your ear and yet others that wrap completely around your head.  No matter which style you use, make sure you use one before you hit the field.

If you ski, snowboard, or participate in any sport where a helmet is worn, select a style with mesh ear flaps to help hold hearing aids in place in the event of a fall. 

Talk to Your Audiologist

When purchasing your hearing aids, make sure that the audiologist knows about all the sports you play.  If you engage in other outdoor activities such as fishing or gardening, be sure to let them know this as well.

The hearing aids you wear need to reflect the life you want to live.  Your audiologist can help keep you in the game.