If you’re the type of person who loves the great outdoors, whether that involves hiking, kayaking, jogging, long walks, bicycling or anything else where you can enjoy the sunshine and breeze, you might have concerns about keeping your hearing aids safe and dry during these activities.
However, there are many things you can do to make sure that you can both hear well and keep your devices protected from dust, dirt, sweat and debris. Here are some tips:
Invest in hearing aid covers
There are a few different companies that sell covers to protect your behind-the-ear hearing aids. They range from terrycloth, sweatband material – which is best for keeping out dirt and dust – to a spandex or neoprene material that works well for keeping out sweat, splashing water and other sources of moisture, as well as dirt and dust. These covers are an inexpensive way to keep your hearing aids protected from the elements.
Water-resistant devices
If you lead a particularly active lifestyle, you might want to consider purchasing water-resistant hearing aids. It’s important to know that these devices are not fully waterproof – you can’t swim, shower or otherwise be immersed in water with them on. However, they have a water-resistant coating that protects them from perspiration and being splashed by water.
Protect hearing aids from the elements
When the weather is extremely hot or cold, your hearing aids are most at risk for being damaged. This is because when it is extremely hot outside, the devices are susceptible to sweat from your ears and scalp. If you’re walking outside in very cold weather and then venture indoors to a heated space, the large difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures can cause condensation to rest on your hearing aid. Additionally, when it is raining, this also poses a threat to hearing aids. Here are some tips to protect your devices from the elements:
- Don’t keep your hearing aids (or head) in direct sunlight. On hot days, wear a wide-brimmed hat, use a hearing aid cover and try to stay in the shade when possible.
- In the cold, make sure to remove your hat and any unnecessary layers when transitioning from cold to warm environments.
- Try to avoid going out in the rain, sleet or snow unless you have an umbrella or hat to protect your devices.
- Invest in a hearing aid dryer or dehumidifier, and store your hearing aids inside at night – with the batteries removed and battery door open – to make sure the devices dry out in case of exposure to moisture.
