Your hearing aids are complex electronic devices that need to be looked after properly and cared for as you would any other devices. Knowing how to care for your hearing aids can prolong their lifespan and continue to deliver the best quality of sound regardless of how often you wear them.
One of the best ways to preserve the functionality of your hearing aids is to protect them from heat and humidity. While you might not think these two factors can affect how well your hearing aid works, they can directly impact the quality of sound and the reliability of your device.
Read on to discover how you can protect your hearing aids from heat and humidity.
Clean Them Daily
Cleaning your hearing aids daily can help you to remove any build-up of wax, debris and moisture. At a minimum, you should at least wipe them with a damp cloth to ensure they are clean and dry before and after each wear.
Use a Storage Case
One of the best ways to protect your hearing aids is to store them correctly in a case. This can prevent them from coming into contact with excessive heat sources and moisture and protect them from damage when not in use.
Use Hearing Aid Covers
While some hearing aids can be water-resistant, they aren’t waterproof. When wearing your hearing aids, protecting them with a waterproof cover can be an added protection against heat and humidity damage and dirt and debris.
Dry Your Ears Properly
One of the main ways hearing aids can come into contact with water is due to the wearer not drying their ears properly after swimming or bathing. Ensure you are drying your ears thoroughly before wearing your hearing aids to reduce moisture damage.
Keep Out of Direct Sunlight
Hearing aids are tiny electronic devices made with metal and plastic parts. While they may be able to withstand some higher temperatures, they shouldn’t be exposed to direct sunlight when possible. While not in use, always store your hearing aids out of direct sunlight to avoid overheating and damage to the fit due to the heat changing the shape of the casing.
Dehumidifier
If you live in a particularly humid or wet climate, your hearing aids can be at risk of damage from environmental moisture or bodily sweat. This means that simply drying them out overnight might not be enough. You must clean the hearing aid, pop it in the container and seal it. You can purchase hearing aid dehumidifiers to help draw moisture from your hearing aid when not in use. The dehumidifier works via a desiccant to remove excess water from the device, leaving your hearing aids dry and ready for use.
Don’t Leave Them in the Car
Many people can be guilty of leaving their hearing aids in the car when they don’t need them. Maybe you’re going swimming and want to keep them safe or you don’t want to wear them until you reach your destination. Whatever the reason. Leaving your hearing aids in the car in hot temperatures can cause damage to the external and internal workings of your hearing aids. The temperature inside cars can rise extremely high and fast compared to outside of the vehicle.
Use a Heat and Fan System
If you want to totally prevent damage, you can purchase heat and fan systems, especially for your hearing aids. They work by using warm air to dry the hearing aid and keep it free from moisture. It benefits wearers who live in hot climates meaning they sweat more frequently, or those who experience discharge or frequent ear infections. Some systems even have a UV light to kill bacteria, making them even safer to use.
Protecting Your Hearing Aids
Your ears and your hearing aids can be subject to constant use every day. For hearing aid wearers, maintaining the hearing aids to ensure they work correctly and fit well means knowing how and when you can sustain damage and how best to avoid these situations.
You can protect your hearing aids in many ways, and the easiest way to spot any damage is to make sure you are cleaning them regularly. This will alert you to any problems quickly so you can get them checked out and rectified.
If you have any concerns about your hearing aids or need advice on making sure you are caring for them properly, then you can discuss your concerns with your audiologist at Norriton Hearing Center. Contact us at (610) 228-2779.
