Hearing aids are an investment you have made in your health, so we know you want your hearing aids to perform their best. When you received your hearing aids your hearing specialist showed you how to care for your new devices. Caring for your hearing aids is simple, but among the key rules to understand is that you will need to keep your hearing aids dry.
Keeping hearing aids dry makes sense logically, as they are electronic technology. Just in the same way that you wouldn’t want your smartphone or computer to get submerged, your hearing aids run the risk of malfunctioning if they get wet. Let’s take a look at how water can harm your hearing aids and what you can do about it.
Water’s Work
There are two main ways that water and moisture can directly harm your hearing aids. First, let’s look at how water can “short out” electronic components. You may be surprised to learn that water itself isn’t the problem. Water is, however, an excellent medium for tiny particles and other small impurities. When a droplet of water enters your device, there is a chance that ions in the water’s impurities can form a chain that conducts electrical charge. That charge, in turn, can bridge across unconnected areas of the hearing aid’s electrictronic parts and can severely damage the delicate components of a device.
Water is also corrosive to many types of metal, so keeping your hearing aids dry is a good way to avoid the physical deterioration of your hearing aid’s metal elements. Most metal components in hearing aids are specially coated to protect them against moisture and corrosion. Water resistant coatings also help your hearing aid work in the challenging conditions of the human ear.
Ears and Moisture
The ear canal doesn’t offer the ideal environment for electronic devices. For starters, the ear canal has natural moisture and cerumen (earwax). The ear can also become quite sweaty because it is surrounded by hair and close to the sweat glands of the face.
Fortunately, quality hearing aids are designed with these challenges in mind. In addition to protective coating that protects metal elements from corrosion, the vulnerable parts of a hearing aid are protected in a sealed casing. Both of these factors help your hearing aids resist water and moisture damage, but the life of your hearing device can be improved and extended further with proper care.
Drying Your Hearing Aids
To properly care for your hearing aids you should always protect them from water and also dry them overnight when you remove them to sleep. Hearing aids should never be directly exposed to water so remove them before showering, bathing and swimming.
If you are caught in a storm without an umbrella or rain hood, it is advisable to remove your hearing aids and place them in a waterproof case. For those living in rainy climates or athletes who expose their hearing aids to sweat, a hearing aid sleeve can offer an additional layer of moisture protection.
Don’t store your hearing aids in rooms with high humidity like bathrooms or kitchens. Whenever your hearing aids are exposed to moisture, be sure to thoroughly dry their surfaces with a clean towel to prevent damage.
Hearing aid dryers are compact cases for your hearing aids that offer a deeper care for your devices, removing moisture from them while you sleep. Using a hearing aid dryer is important upkeep maintenance for your hearing aids and can keep them functioning better, longer. Electronic drying boxes use air and low heat to evaporate any droplets, both outside and within the hearing aid. For most rechargeable hearing aids, the charging station doubles as a hearing aid dryer.
There are also non-electronic ways to dry your hearing aids. Desiccants are substances that can be used to leech moisture from your devices. Available at drug stores and online, desiccants are sold as linings or pellets, and can be used effectively regardless of whether or not you have access to electric power.
Treating Hearing Loss with Hearing Aids
Our team is committed to helping you find lasting solutions for managing your hearing loss. From finding the perfect hearing device for your lifestyle, to making sure it delivers top performance, we’re with you every step of the way. If you want to learn more or have noticed changes in the way you hear, it is time to set up an appointment with us. Contact us today!