Tips on Caring for Your Hearing Aids during the Fall and Winter Months
Hearing aids are durable devices that hold up to frequent use, but they do require some care and maintenance as the seasons change to avoid unnecessary repairs. With more than 50 years of combined experience, the audiologists at The Hearing Group offer numerous hearing aid services with compassion and refined skill. Here, we offer various tips that help ensure proper hearing aid care during the fall and winter months.
Cold Weather Hearing Aid Tips
Autumn and winter open opportunities for seasonal outdoor activities. As a result, your hearing aids are exposed to harsher elements than normal. Whatever your plans, you should be prepared for what the chillier seasons have in store.
Outdoor Activities
Bundling up before heading outdoors not only keeps you warm but also helps keep your hearing aids safe. Keep them secure with a tighter cap to ensure they don’t get lost while raking leaves and shoveling snow. A hearing aid headband can provide a little extra security while you’re on the move. To keep your hearing aids dry in the elements, make sure the headband is moisture resistant.
Sports Activities
If hitting the slopes and sledding are among your favorite winter activities, keep an eye out for condensation buildup on your hearing aids when going from cold to warm environments. Condensation can cause corrosion or damage to the microphone or receiver. Removing your devices beforehand can protect them from excess moisture and perspiration.
If you’re worried about losing your hearing aids during rigorous physical activities, download the app for your hearing aid. Wireless technology allows you to track lost devices, making it easier to find them.
Temperature Drops
Many of the components of your hearing aids are sensitive to extremely cold temperatures. If outdoor excursions require you to be out in the frosty air, take extra care of your devices. Severe temperature drops may reduce battery life and overall performance. If you think your hearing aids have suffered cold weather damage, consult an audiologist at The Hearing Group.
Holiday Travel
Before you travel, make a list of all the hearing aid accessories you need to pack. If you use traditional hearing aid batteries, ensure you have enough replacement batteries to last the entire trip. If you use rechargeable hearing aids, make sure your charging station or portable charger is packed. Depending on where you travel, you may also need additional accessories, such as the correct electrical adapter when traveling overseas.
Protection Against Hearing Aid Damage
While many hearing aids can resist light moisture, most will become damaged if exposed to excessive amounts. Condensation, water, and sweat can kill your batteries and allow bacteria to grow. To keep your hearing aids from intense moisture damage, consider getting the following accessories:
- Dry boxes for storing and dehumidifying
- Waterproof containers to store devices around wet areas
- Headbands or sleeves to cover and shield the devices from moisture or dirt
- Cords and clips to attach the aids to your clothes and prevent loss
Cleaning Your Hearing Aids
If your devices end up getting wet, you can try to fix them before calling your hearing aid provider. Pat them dry with a cloth to remove excess moisture and then place the aids inside a hearing aid dryer with the battery doors open and let them sit overnight. If you don’t have a dryer, place the hearing aids in a bowl of uncooked rice overnight or let them air dry for 24-48 hours. Once the aids are fully dry, install new batteries and ensure everything is working properly.
For more seasonal hearing aid care tips or to schedule an audiological evaluation, contact The Hearing Group in West Orange, New Jersey.