Seven hearing aid care tips for summer

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A woman sunbathes on the beach on a sunny day. Her face is obscured by a giant hat and her arms are behind her head. Beyond her, the waves crash and the sky is bright blue with only a few clouds.

This post originally appeared on Starkey.com

If there ever was a cure for the summertime blues, it’s hearing aids: The power of better hearing allows you to enjoy everything from dining alfresco with family to relaxing to the sound of waves at the beach.

But as with any high-tech devices, it’s important to keep your hearing aids safe from heat, humidity, and water. These can damage the microphone, receiver, and circuit of your hearing aids and impact performance.

Never fear — these seven care tips are here to help you keep your hearing aids protected and working their best in the warmer months ahead:

1. Protect hearing aids from water

While swimming and boating are two undeniable delights of summer, remember that any water contact with your hearing aids — even if they are water resistant — could put a damper on performance.

The good news: There is now a longer-term solution for unexpected splashes, rainfall, or dunks — the all-new rechargeable Genesis AI hearing aids. Engineered with more gaskets and silicone seals, a protective nano coating inside and out, and a fully enclosed, built-in battery, Genesis AI are designed to be waterproof up to three foot depth.

But with any hearing aids, it’s always best to err on the safe side: You don’t want to swim in them (even Genesis AI could fall out or feel uncomfortable underwater). Instead, take your hearing aids out and safely store them any time your ears could get wet. And after you finish your water activity, dry your ears (including ear canals) before reinserting your hearing aids.

2. Store hearing aids in a cool, dry place

Whether you’re removing your hearing aids to go swimming or to take a nap on the lanai, it’s a good idea to keep them somewhere cool to help prevent damage caused by heat or humidity. So, if you’re out and about, avoid storing your hearing aids in the car, or anywhere damp or in direct sunlight. Instead, place them in their case and store in a cooler, shaded location. 

3. Use a dry-aid kit/dehumidifier

Think about how many times you go in and out of air conditioning during the summer — from the supermarket to your car, or the garden to your house: Such temperature swings can cause humidity, perspiration, and condensation to build up and impact hearing aid performance. Defend against this using a dry-aid kit/dehumidifier for hearing aids. They are affordable, easy to use, and your hearing care professional can help you find the right one for your devices.

4. Put on skin protectants before hearing aids

Sunscreen and insect repellant may ward off burns, bites, and stings — but then you have the other potential pain of clogging your hearing aid microphone and/or receiver. The best course of action: (1) apply your lotion and/or spray, (2) wash your hands, (3) insert your hearing aids. And when you remove your devices at bedtime, simply wipe them off before putting them into their charger or case.

5. Remove hearing aids before rides

There is nothing like a good rollercoaster ride with your favorite kiddos during amusement park season. Not so amusing — your hearing aids falling out during the ride’s sudden, forceful movements. So, be sure to remove and stow your hearing aids before you climb aboard any thrill ride (and save your screams for the loop-de-loops).

6. Wear the right footwear

Okay, we know what you’re thinking — what does footwear have to do with hearing aid care? You'd be surprised! Wearing well-fitting, appropriate footwear for your summer activity can help minimize drops caused by tripping — while keeping you safe, too. Indeed, your hearing aids may not only get lost if they fall out, but also become damaged by the force of the drop. Genesis AI hearing aids are another great option, with built-tough durability that helps them withstand sudden drops.

Plus, you can connect Genesis AI to the My Starkey app, which has a feature that can track hearing aids in the event you misplace them.

7. Monitor hearing aid performance with Self Check

Did you know there is a way to ensure your hearing aids are performing their best all summer long? Use Self Check — the My Starkey app feature that allows you to perform a simple diagnostic test on the microphone, receiver and circuit of your hearing aids (it’s also available in the Thrive app). You can find out if your hearing aids are in good working condition, or if they require cleaning, new wax guards, or a visit with your hearing care professional. Then it’s back to summer fun as usual.

Good day, sunshine — with these hearing aid care tips in mind, you can enjoy every activity under the sun.

Want to make sure your hearing aids are vacation-ready? Find the nearest Chicagoland Hearing Center location.