Take these hearing loss tips with you when you hit the beach this summer.
Beach vacations are a fantastic way to enjoy your summer or Memorial Day weekend. Sand, surf, and sunshine are a perfect combination! But these things can also pose hazards to our hearing health and hearing devices, so it’s essential to keep common hearing loss tips in mind during your trip.
Check out these tips for a hearing-loss-friendly beach vacation!
- Bring supplies to dry and clean your devices
- Wear a headband, earplugs, or swim cap
- Be diligent about sunscreen
- Pack extra batteries
- Know how to prevent and treat swimmer’s ear
- Upgrade to water-resistant hearing aids
Let’s look at these hearing loss tips for the beach!
Bring supplies to dry and clean your devices
If you wear hearing aids or use other assistive listening devices, it’s crucial to protect these valuable assets. Here are some tips for caring for your hearing aids during the summer. Pack supplies like cotton swabs to dry off any moisture that accumulates, a dehumidifier to dry your hearing aids overnight, and a bag of uncooked rice in case your devices catch an unexpected wave. Keep them inside a case in your beach bag while you’re swimming to protect them from water, sand and sun exposure, all of which can damage devices.
Wear a headband, earplugs, or swim cap
It’s essential to protect your ears from the water. Wearing some form of ear protection, like wax earplugs or a swim cap, helps keep any water from getting inside your ear and causing issues. If you use hearing aids or other assistive devices, be sure to remove them before getting in the water.
Be diligent about sunscreen
When we apply sunscreen, most people are careful to cover the whole face — but often forget the ears! Put sunscreen all over the exterior of the ear, including the tops and behind the ears. If you use them, remove your hearing aids while applying sunscreen and wait for your ears to dry before re-inserting them (if you plan to) so they don’t get greasy or damaged.
Pack extra batteries
Sun and heat can do a number on battery life, so pack extras for your hearing aids. If you’re staying somewhere overnight during your beach trip, leave your extra batteries in the hotel room instead of bringing them out into the heat to ensure they remain safe and ready for use.
Know how to prevent and treat swimmer’s ear
Swimmer’s ear is a common infection of the ear canal. Prevention is the best cure, of course, but early treatment is the next best thing. Keeping your ears out of the water as much as possible and drying them thoroughly after swimming is the best prevention method. Contact your doctor if you notice swimmer’s ear symptoms like muffled hearing, itchiness, and ear pain. They may recommend ear drops or antibiotic pills.
Upgrade to water-resistant hearing aids
If you find yourself frequently using these tips for a hearing loss-friendly beach vacation, you might want to consider upgrading your devices! Hearing aids have different levels of water resistance, which are noted by their IP rating. Look for a rating of IP67, which can tolerate brief submersion in water (but still do your best to keep them dry). Here’s a quick guide to choosing the best water-resistant hearing aids for you.
Still deciding on a destination for your next summer trip? Here are some ideas (with and without beaches) of hearing-loss-friendly vacation destinations to choose from.
