Summer is one of the best times of the year to get active because there are so many fun activities for you to participate in! However, no matter what summer fun you are planning on having, there are a few dangers and risks to your hearing aids that have to be addressed. 

The three H’s of summer: Heat, H2O, and Humidity can be detrimental to your hearing aids. One of the best hearing aid providers in Omaha, Dr. Nikki, has a few tips you can keep in mind to keep you involved in all the summer festivities while protecting your hearing aids at the same time. 

1. Keep them out of the sun 

There’s no question about it that summertime can get extremely hot, and if you feel overheated, your hearing aids probably do too! If you will be participating in a water activity or going to the beach, it might be best to just leave the hearing aids at home. That way, you aren’t tempted to leave them laying out, or worse, store them in your car. A good rule of thumb is if it’s unsafe heat for you, it’s unsafe heat for your aids too. On a 95 degree day, the inside of your car can reach a sweltering 116 degrees! 

2. Water-resistant ≠ waterproof 

While many water-resistant hearing aids are designed to get a little wet, they were not made to be submerged. If you plan on going swimming, make sure you bring a hearing aid storage case with you. After swimming, you will also want to make sure that you are drying your ears completely before reinserting your hearing aid. You can tip your head to the side and gently pull on your earlobe to get out any trapped water and dry thoroughly with a towel. 

3. Get a dehumidifier 

Humidity can be the silent killer for your hearing aids if you are not taking the proper precautions. Many people believe that letting their hearing aids air dry overnight will be sufficient to take the moisture out, but during the summer months, that might not be enough. Getting a dehumidifier case can help get some of the moisture out of your hearing devices and elongate their life. Another option is to take them to hearing aid providers like Dr. Nikki that have the Redux machine. This machine uses a patented vacuum drying process that removes moisture from your hearing device quickly and completely! 

4. Wear a sweatband when exercising 

Pool water is not the only source of moisture that poses a danger to your hearing aids this summer– sweat is a big culprit too! You could be out for a jog or doing some light gardening work, but no matter the activity, if you think you might break a sweat, then put on a sweatband. It can create a barrier between your hearing aid device and potential sweat drops. 

5. Clean your hearing aids everyday 

Since you are more inclined to get dirty during summer, your hearing aids are more likely to get dirty too. Make sure at the end of every day you are taking the time to wipe down your hearing aid to get rid of excess sweat and dirt buildup that can occur. It also would not be a bad idea to get it professionally cleaned every once in a while by one of the hearing aid providers near you. Dr. Nikki recommends a professional cleaning of your hearing aids once every 4-6 months.

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Dr. Nikki is one of the best hearing aid providers in Omaha and can help make sure all your hearing devices stay working this summer. Contact us if you want to schedule an appointment or learn more!