Hot summers in Tucson mean lots of ice cream, pool days and probably a fair amount of sweating. If you wear hearing aids, the sweaty heat of summer can make your devices feel sticky and uncomfortable in your ears. Luckily, there are a few ways you can counteract those feelings for more comfortable hearing aids, all summer long.
1. Clean Your Hearing Aids Nightly
In 2019, 7.1% of adults aged 45 and over wore a hearing aid.[1] These helpful devices help you connect with the world—and they work their best with regular care. Built-up sweat, dirt and earwax are a few things that can clog your hearing aids, leading to poor sound quality, increasing your risk of bacteria buildup and infection and making your devices downright uncomfortable to wear. To keep your hearing aids comfortable and functioning well, take the following steps with a cleaning kit:
- Wipe your devices with a clean, dry cloth
- Remove debris and wax from the cracks and crevices of your devices using a wax brush and a pick tool
- Remove tubing and earmolds if applicable and wash them in warm, soapy water (if your tubing or earmolds aren’t supposed to be removed, do not attempt to wash them)
- Clean the vents using a vent cleaner tool
- Change wax filters
Remember that unclean hearing aids are uncomfortable hearing aids. Set an alarm for the same time each night to remind you to clean your devices.
2. Remove Moisture
Arizona might be a dry heat, but that doesn’t mean you won’t sweat. The extra moisture can potentially damage the internal components of your devices or make them feel slippery and uncomfortable to wear. Each night, place your devices in an electric hearing aid dehumidifier or a drying jar filled with desiccating beads. Removing moisture regularly will prevent unnecessary damage and discomfort.
Drying your hearing aids is especially important if you’ve spent the day swimming at the Oro Valley Aquatic Center or one of our local lakes. Before you jump in the water, remove and store your hearing aids to minimize moisture exposure.
3. Wear a Sweatband
If you’re exercising, consider wearing a sweatband above your ears to catch dripping sweat before it hits your hearing aids.
4. Schedule a Professional Cleaning
Our device specialists at Arizona Hearing Specialists can deep-clean your hearing aids and remove built-up moisture for better summer sound and comfort. Call us today to schedule your service appointment.
[1] Madans, J. H., Weeks, J. D., & Elgaddal, N. (2021). Hearing difficulties among adults: United States, 2019. National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db414.htm