Summer Activities and Hearing Aid Care

When summer arrives and all you want to do is hit the beach, go for a swim and lather on the sunscreen for a long day out at the parks, you might need to plan ahead if you wear hearing aids. They will never get in the way of the fun you can have in the summer, even if you want to swim. However, you do need to take extra care when the activities involve certain summer things such as water and sunscreen. But don’t worry. We have you covered with all of the hearing aid care tricks you need for summer activities. 

Sand in Hearing Aids

No matter if you drop your hearing aid directly into the sand or play innocently at the beach, you may experience getting sand in your hearing aid. This can either cause a blockage or disruption to the performance of your hearing aid. Either way, you will want to remove the sand as soon as possible. 

Sand will not likely get stuck and can easily be removed with a bristle brush. Wipe away the sand and grit from the earmold and domes. Ensure to brush until every speck is removed so that you do not experience a fault with your hearing aid in the future. 

Excessive Earwax

During the months that you are in and out of the pool and experience more humidity than usual, you may experience excessive earwax. This is totally normal and also happens to those that do not experience hearing loss. 

Your hearing aid may lose its powerful abilities with earwax all over it. Thus, ensure to keep it clean. Cleaning them and freeing them of earwax regularly will help, especially during summer when earwax buildup is rife. 

Take Them Out for Water Activities

Although hearing aids are water resistant, they are not likely to be waterproof. Thus, always ensure to remove them before you dive in the pool or go for a day at the water park. You will not want to risk damaging them.

Got Them Wet?

Speaking of swimming, you may experience getting your hearing aids wet. If so, don’t panic, you can dry them out. 

If you do ever experience getting your hearing aids wet during a summer water fight or accidentally forgetting to remove them when you dive in the pool, make sure to dry them out. A guaranteed way to do so is to use a dry aid kit, which will remove the excess moisture overnight. When you go to sleep, even if you do not feel they are wet, it can help to use the dry aid kit in case you did experience an excess of moisture. 

Before draining the moisture, give them a good wipe down to kickstart the moisture removal process.

Sunscreen First

You will likely require sunscreen during the summer. Whether you want to lie in the garden or go out for the day to the theme park, ensure to protect your skin. Sunscreen is heavy in oils, which can rub against your hearing aid and/or get into the small crevices. To avoid this, put your sunscreen on before putting your hearing aids in. Ensure to wash your hands first so that your hands are free of oils. 

If sunscreen and its oils gets into your battery compartment, it may cause a fault. Therefore, never contaminate your hearing aids with oil-based products.

Avoid High Temperatures

Your hearing aids can decline in high temperatures. Although they may be safe in your ear, never leave them lying in direct sunlight or in extreme humidity. Always keep them away from the sun and in a cool, dry place. If you are out in extreme weather, wear a hat or sweatband to protect them from being vulnerable to the hot summer sun. 

Disinfect the Bacteria

Summer heat increases the growth of bacteria. It can get on your hands, neck and face. You will want to avoid getting bacteria on your hearing aids, as you will pick it up at a later date. 

To fight the bacteria, regularly disinfect your hands, neck, face and hearing aids with wipes. Wipes will avoid an excess of moisture and will fight the greatest number of bacteria, especially in those small crevices. 

Throughout summer, it is important to protect yourself as well as your hearing aids. Ensure to keep them moisture-free, regularly wipe them down and be sensible when partaking in water activities. The longevity of your hearing aids is important to aid a better quality of life for you. 

To seek further assistance with hearing aid repairs and to learn more about purchasing new hearing aids, give Atlantic Audiology a call today at (401) 262-0170.