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Summer time means more sunshine and a chance to spend more time outdoors. The increased moisture and heat in the air can however cause problems for hearing aids, which is why more vigilant maintenance and care is needed during the warmer months. Your hearing aid circuitry and battery are especially vulnerable to the elements, which is why the following tips could be helpful in protecting them from damage and ensuring they remain hygienic.
Beware of dust and moisture
One of the biggest challenges is to prevent the accumulation of dust and moisture in your hearing aids, as these elements can damage the electronics inside or reduce the performance of the batteries. Be sure to remove your hearing aids when swimming, in a steam bath, or walking in heavy rain. You can also wear hearing aid sheaths or sweatbands that are usually made of water-resistant spandex-nylon material to absorb moisture, sweat and dust, preventing them from infiltrating the hearing aids while letting in sound.
During bedtime, or while not using your hearing aids, place them in an anti-humidity kit such as a desiccant jar to shield them from excess moisture. Wipe any moisture or sweat on the batteries to avoid corrosion, and leave the battery compartment open overnight to allow air to circulate. If your hearing aids accidentally come into contact with water, take them off immediately and wipe them with an absorbent fabric to dry the outside. An electric hearing aid dryer can them be used to dry the internal circuitry and batteries.
Disinfect
The summer warmth and moisture provides a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which could cause infections in your ear canal. Therefore, it is vital that you clean your devices more often during this period to keep them hygienic. Always clean your devices with disinfectant wipes before inserting them, and place them in their protective kit whenever you aren't using them for an extended period.
Ear wax is also a major problem, as it can clog up the ear piece vents and cause damage. To prevent this, use the wax removal tools in your device to remove any wax lodged in the filter, before replacing the used filter with a new one. A hearing aid professional can help with wax removal, especially if there is too much wax in the filter.
Hairspray and makeup
Chemicals and oils in aftershave lotion, cosmetics, hair spray, sunscreen and perfumes can seep into open seams and microphone ports on your hearing aids, so it is best to avoid subjecting the devices to direct contact with such products. Always take off your hearing aids before using such products, and allow them to fully dry before refitting the hearing devices.
For more information, contact Audiologists Northwest or a similar organization.
Share30 July 2015
