After being confined to our houses for the best part of 18-months, we’re sure lots of you are ready to get out and enjoy the summer!
Whether you’re travelling abroad or enjoying the anticipated September heatwave, we wanted to provide you with some helpful tips on How to look after your hearing aids in the heat.
For more advice on looking after your hearing aids, or to speak with an audiologist about your hearing loss, get in touch with us today on 01279 757077.
What damage can heat do to my hearing aids?
Whilst in your ear, your devices are usually shaded and protected from the heat. However, there may be times when you need to remove them, such as if you’re going for a swim. In these instances, don’t leave your devices in direct sunlight as this can be harmful both internally and externally.
Inside the casing, the electrical circuit can become damaged which might lead to reduced battery life over time. It can also cause a build-up of excessive moisture on the microphone and receiver which can drastically affect the way your hearing aid works.
As well as this, in very warm temperatures, the outer casing on your hearing aid may even begin to melt which could alter the shape and fit of your device. This could occur, for example, if you left your hearing device in a hot car or direct sunlight.
Protect your hearing aids from water damage
Being close to the water and heavy perspiration in the heat can mean that your devices are more likely to experience water damage or moisture build-up. Try not to see too close to the water or within a distance where splashing is likely.
If you do notice excess moisture on your devices, don’t use a hairdryer to dry them out. We’d recommend a special dry-aid kit (Linked is an example) designed especially for hearing devices to keep moisture away. Alternatively, if you don’t have this available, you can simply wipe them off with a dry cloth and open the battery doors to let them dry naturally.
Take care around sunscreen and bug repellent
Sunscreen is crucial when exposed to the sun to protect our skin and should always be applied!
However, if you’re a hearing aid wearer, we’d recommend removing them before applying sunscreen as the cream can clog parts of your device. The same applies to bug repellent and any other creams that moisten your skin.
We hope this article has help in to understand how to look after your hearing aids in the heat!
