It’s that time of year again! We are starting to enjoy the good ‘ol Midwest heat and humidity. Unfortunately, with the rise in temperature we also see a rise in hearing aid malfunction. Moisture is a common culprit of hearing aid breakdown. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the chance that moisture will cause problems with your hearing aid. 

A certain amount of moisture in hearing aids is inevitable, and some people are going to stuggle more with moisture related problems than others. Movement between the warm temperatures outside and a cool, air-conditioned environment can result in condensation inside a hearing aid. Use of a drying system, such as a Dry and Store is an efficient way to combat moisture in hearing aids. The Dry and Store is an electronic box that you put your hearing aids in every night. This runs through a 6-8 hours cycle that pulls moisture out of your hearing aids as well as sanitizes the surface of the aids. Consistent use of a Dry and Store has been shown to reduce hearing aid repairs significantly!

If you are actively perspiring while wearing a hearing aid, periodically wiping down the outside of the hearing aid and the battery compartment can help reduce moisture related problems. Sweat bands can be worn to help keep moisture away from the hearing aids. Behind the ear hearing aids can even accommodate water proof casings that can be slid over the hearing aid to wick moisture away from the aids. Opening the battery doors when the hearing aids are not in use can also help dry the moisture that has made its way inside the hearing aid. This will help reduce the chance of corrosion inside the aids.

There may be some situations where it is smarter to take the hearing aids off and leave them in a safe place. For example, if you are going to be exercising or working in the yard and know you will be perspiring, it may be wise to take your hearing aids out to avoid the moisture that may get in them. If you are going to be perspiring and don’t need your hearing aids, take them out. 

Of course, there are going to be times when you know you will be perspiring but still want to wear your hearing aids. By all means…wear your hearing aids! Go ahead and wear your hearing aids to that outdoor wedding or family picnic. Your hearing aids are there for you to use! Just take appropriate precautions to reduce the impact of moisture on your hearing aids.

Perspiration isn’t the only way moisture can get inside a hearing aid.  Be sure to wear a hat or carry an umbrella in the rain. When not wearing your hearing aids, make sure they are being stored in a dry place. 

Moisture is one of hearing aids worse enemies. Some amount of moisture is unavoidable, but the hearing aid user can take precautions to reduce the impact this moisture has on their hearing aids. 

How do I take care of my new hearing aids?

Hearing aids are fairly “low maintenance”, but there are a few key things you can do to ensure proper function or your hearing instruments. Some issues common to all hearing aids are earwax, moisture and batteries. Your hearing healthcare professional should review this information with you at your hearing aid fitting or at any time a problem is noted.

First we will address earwax, also called cerumen. This waxy substance is a normal product of a healthy ear, but we do need to take care that it does not interfere with our hearing instrument function. Every type of hearing aid has an opening where the sound comes out and enters your ear. This opening should be checked every day to ensure that it is not blocked by earwax. You should have a cleaning tool to assist you with removal of this wax. If you are not sure how to accomplish this, or limited vision or dexterity makes this difficult for you, see your hearing healthcare provider for instruction or regular cleaning.

A second “enemy” of hearing aids is moisture. Electronic devices do not like to get wet, and your hearing aids are no exception. A little common sense is in order here: remember to take hearing aids out before stepping into the shower or jumping into a pool. If it is raining, an umbrella should keep us dry. But there are less obvious moisture problems to consider. Summertime humidity, perspiration or even just small amount of moisture from normal use can occasionally interfere with hearing aid function. In general, hearing aids should be opened at the battery compartment when not is use. They should be stored in are area of low humidity: not the bathroom or kitchen. If moisture is a particular problem for you, several types of drying units are available.

From simple containers with drying crystals to electronic dryers which also sanitize your instruments. Ask your hearing healthcare professional about options that would work for you and your hearing instruments.

All hearing instruments require batteries and you should know the specific size that works with your instruments. The amount of time that a battery lasts will vary greatly depending on the size of battery, type of hearing aid, and hours of use. On average, they will need to be changed every 1-2 weeks, but again, consult with your hearing professional about your specific devices.

One last note about taking care of your hearing aids. There will, of course, be times when you are not wearing them.,It is recommended that you keep them in the same place each time you take them out of your ears. This helps prevent loss or even just time wasted searching. If you have a pet at home, please keep the hearing aids and batteries out of reach. Our dogs and cats love us, but they also love our hearing aids. Find a safe, dry storage place and stick with it.

Just a little regular maintenance and some advice from your hearing healthcare professional can help you to keep your hearing aids working properly so you don’t miss a moment.

By Margaret Christiansen, AU.D, CCC-A
Audiology Consultants, P.C.

Despite my best effort, my hearing aids always break down in the summer months! What can I do differently?

Those hot, muggy Mid-west summer days are just around the corner. Inevitably, we always see more hearing aids breaking down in the summer months. This is largely due to increased moisture getting into the aids.

Perspiration is an obvious problem that can introduce moisture into hearing aids. Because of this, it is important to consider the situations in which you are wearing your hearing aids. Ideally, one’s hearing aids should be worn all day but there are certain instances where it is safer for your hearing aids to be left inside. For instance, if you are working in the yard on a hot day and know you will be perspiring, it is wise to leave your hearing aid inside in a safe, dry location.

Heat and humidity can affect hearing-aid function. Moisture is introduced to the internal components of the hearing aid both by the humidity in our environment and the natural warmth and humidity of our ear canals. Condensation can also occur inside the hearing aid as we move between air conditioning and hot weather resulting in beads of moisture inside the hearing aid.

Tell-tale signs of moisture related hearing-aid problems are corrosion in the battery compartment or intermittent hearing-aid function. If hearing aids are affected by moisture, they may stop working but start working again after being out of the ear for several hours.

If moisture is a problem with your hearing aids, drying systems are available and can make a remarkable difference in the life and function of your aids.