Summer Hearing Aid Care Tips

June 21 marks the official start of summer. For most people, summer means swimming, sprinklers and sunscreen. For people who wear hearing aids, those three summer essentials, can wreak havoc on one’s devices. After all, hearing aids are delicate instruments that are vulnerable to moisture. The sunshine and water doesn’t have to be stressful, just follow these summer hearing aid care tips and you’ll have no problem taking a splash!

Because of this vulnerability, hearing aids not only require regular care and maintenance, they also require wearers to be cautious of their activities. Someone wearing hearing aids, for example, can’t just go running through a sprinkler on a whim to cool down during a hot summer afternoon.

Get the proper protection

When it comes to the summer months, it is important to have a waterproof container with you at all times, as you never want to allow your hearing aids to get wet. Waterproof containers can be found in the water sports section of sporting goods stores. Since they are relatively inexpensive, consider purchasing several to keep in your favorite summer locales, such as the boat, beach house or backyard.

An easy way to have a container on hand is store one with all the summer essentials, such as sunscreen, towels, sunglasses and flip-flops. When you’re ready to enter the water, just pop your hearing aids into the container before splashing or swimming.

Apply sunscreen first

Along with water, hearing aids need protection from sunscreen. Not only is the moisture from the sunscreen dangerous for your hearing aids, the chemicals in the lotion are harmful as well.  Sunscreen will clog the vents and damage other components of your hearing aids. When applying sunscreen to your face, neck and ears, consider taking your hearing aids out, especially if you are using spray lotion. Make sure to wash and dry your hands after applying sunscreen and before handling your hearing aids again. 

Keep hearing aids out of the heat

The last summer element to protect your hearing aids from is the sun. It’s important to avoid extreme temperature changes. The plastic outer shell of your hearing aid can melt when exposed to intense sunlight. The same is true if your hearing aid is under extreme heat for long periods of time. That’s why it is important to not leave your hearing aids, for example, inside the glove compartment or sitting on the dashboard of parked car. Along with the damage to the shell, hearing aid batteries can fail due to heat exposure.

To make the most of the summer months, make sure to carry a waterproof case with you, storing your hearing aids in a cool, shady environment when you are ready to kick back and cool off. These summer hearing aid tips are a great way to kick off the warm season, but if you experience any problems with your devices don’t be afraid to contact your hearing care provider.