Hearing aids are a big investment into a person’s quality of life, and an investment that should be protected. One of the greatest enemies of your hearing aids is moisture. While hearing aids are built to withstand the rugged environment of your ear, they are still a high-level technology that can malfunction if not properly cared for. Moisture can certainly be a challenge for us during the humid Florida summers.
Hearing aids are generally water-resistant but not waterproof. That means that if you get caught in a rainstorm, you’ll be fine to walk to your car or be exposed for a short time period. On the other hand, you don’t want to shower or go swimming while wearing your hearing aids. Even though they can withstand a normal amount of wear and tear, over time moisture can build up and create some issues.
Below are signs that moisture has already affected your hearing aids:
- Sound cuts out when there are loud noises.
- Sound fades in regular listening environments.
- You hear a lot of static.
- Sounds are distorted or unclear.
- Your hearing aid stops working completely, even temporarily.
There are several things you can do at home to try to remedy or prevent moisture in your hearing aids.
You can purchase a drying device or dehumidifier. Your hearing aids can be kept in the drying device every night while you are sleeping. It dries your hearing aids by circulating a safe amount of warm air around them to pull out moisture which is then absorbed by the desiccant in the drying device. This device is a small investment to protect your valuable hearing healthcare technology. They are recommended for all hearing aid users due to the humid environment in Florida, but they are particularly important for those who perspire excessively.
Whether you keep your hearing aids in a drying device or just in a case at night, be sure to store them in a dry area rather than a bathroom where there may be extra moisture in the air.
If you have behind-the-ear hearing aids, look in the earmold tubing. If you see moisture droplets, you can purchase an earmold puffer to blow the moisture out.
Many of today’s hearing aids are rechargeable and those tend to be the best at resisting moisture. This is because traditional hearing aids have a battery door that swings open and closed when changing batteries and moisture can sneak into that opening. But the new rechargeable devices keep all of the electronics sealed inside the hearing aid.
To learn more about drying devices or which hearing aids are best suited to your lifestyle, contact Precision Hearing at 352-765-8008 or PrecisionHearingFL.com.