If you’re a new hearing aid wearer or are experiencing your first winter with hearing aids, you should know that a change of seasons brings new issues to address. If your hearing aids are not carefully cared for, the winter months can do a number on them. Here are some tips to help your hearing aids make it through the wonderful winter season intact:
Keep them protected
Hearing aids and hearing aid batteries can stop working due to temperature extremes. Never leave them in a cold car or near a window in the winter. Additionally, if you are going to be out in cold weather, make sure to protect your hearing aids from the cold. Wear earmuffs, a hat or headband over your ears. This additionally serves to keep your hearings aids dry.
Keep moisture away
You probably know by now that moisture can damage hearing aids and batteries. Maybe you live in a place with very dry winters, so this isn’t too much of a problem. However, if you live in an area that is wet year round or if you’ll wear a hat or headband over your hearing aids, which causes your ears to sweat, finding ways to make sure your devices stay dry is very important.
One thing that everyone should have is a dehumidifier. Extreme temperature changes can cause condensation to settle inside hearing aids. Dehumidifiers are fairly inexpensive. At night, remove your hearing aid batteries and put the devices in the dehumidifier. They will remove the moisture overnight so you’re ready to go the next day. This will prolong the life of your hearing aids.
Another good purchase is hearing aid sweatbands, which you can buy from Ear Gear. These tight covers are made of a soft spandex that keeps hearing aid processors free from sweat, wax and other moisture.
Other advice
Consider purchasing water-resistant hearing aids if you live in a particularly wet area like Seattle or Portland. Always have spare batteries on hand during the winter months. Extreme cold can cause them to lose charge more quickly. Never place your hearing aids on a heater to dry them! Hearing aid dehumidifiers use temperatures that are designed for hearing aids. A heater could get too hot and melt your devices!
Do your best to protect your hearing aids from moisture and cold during the winter months so that you can enjoy the holidays fully with no surprise device or battery malfunctions.
