We’re in the midst of another hot summer, and it’s not likely to end any time soon. If you use hearing aids to treat your hearing loss, you may be concerned about the risk hot summer weather poses to your device.
Let’s take a look at how hot weather has the potential to harm your hearing aids, as well as what you can do to protect them.
Heat and Humidity Can Damage Hearing Aids
Hot summer days can pose several challenges to your hearing aids. When it’s hot outside, your body temperature rises and causes you to sweat more. While hearing aids are built to withstand some moisture, too much buildup can eventually lead to your device malfunctioning.
Additionally, some parts of your hearing aid are heat sensitive and can melt when in direct sunlight. While this isn’t a problem when you are wearing your hearing aids, you do need to be mindful of where you place them when you take them out and make sure to store them in a cool, dry place to keep them safe.
Lastly, if you’re out in the hot summer sun, you should be wearing sunscreen to help protect your skin from any damaging rays. However, getting sunscreen or any other lotions on your hearing aids can harm the device.
Steps to Protect Your Hearing Aids in the Heat
While you have to be mindful of the risks hot weather can pose to your hearing aids, following these simple steps should keep them safe:
- Follow a nightly cleaning routine to remove any built-up moisture or other debris.
- Store your hearing aids in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
- Wipe your hearing aids off after spending time in a hot or humid environment or after activities where you were sweating more than usual, like after playing volleyball at Buckroe Beach.
- Put any sunscreen or other lotion on and wait for it to dry before you insert your hearing aids.
- Notify your hearing specialist if you believe your hearing aids are experiencing problems due to damage from heat or humidity.
Get Your Hearing Tested This Summer
While your hearing aids need a little extra care in the hotter months, if you’re one of the 28.8 million adults in the United States who could benefit from hearing aids, there’s no reason to wait until the temperatures are cooler to schedule an appointment with an audiologist to discuss your options.
They will perform a hearing test to determine what sounds you struggle with and consider your individual needs as well as style and comfort preferences to find the right pair of hearing aids for you.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with one of our experts, call Hampton Roads ENT ~ Allergy today.