- Stock Up On Batteries
Cold weather and electronics do not mix well, as low temperatures tend to drain battery life quickly. For this reason, it’s good practice to keep a few spare batteries at home.
- Keep Your Ears Warm and Dry
If your ears are cold, so are your hearing aids. Moreover, when your ears are cold, it increases the chance of moisture building up inside your hearing aids. Before you venture outside, wear breathable, moisture-wicking earmuffs, a beanie hat, or a scarf over your ears to protect hearing aids from the cold, snow, rain, sleet, and condensation.
- Remove Them Before Exerting Activities
If it’s safe to do so, take your hearing aids out and store them somewhere warm, dry, and safe before doing winter activities like shoveling, ice skating, or skiing. Don’t ever store them in the glove compartment of a car or in your pockets. This will not provide enough warmth to protect the batteries from cold temperatures.
- Wipe Them Down After Coming Inside
Going from the chilly outdoors to the warmth inside your home can create condensation inside hearing aids and the battery compartment. Both in-the-ear (ITE) and behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids can suffer moisture damage, so it’s important to wipe your hearing aids down with a clean, soft cloth and open the battery compartment to allow the moisture to evaporate.
If you wear behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, try using hearing aid sweatbands to help absorb moisture. You can also purchase a hearing aid dehumidifier or drying case to help draw moisture out year-round.
- Never Use An Artificial Heat Source
Do not use a hair dryer, oven, radiator, or place your hearing aids near a furnace to dry them - it could cause them to melt! Always allow wet hearing aids to dry slowly at room temperature. If you are looking for hearing aids that can be worn while swimming, speak to an audiologist about getting fitted for waterproof devices.
How Can I Tell If My Hearing Aids Are Wet?
If you notice any of the following issues with your hearing aid unit, they may have moisture damage. Bring them to an audiologist if you need assistance getting them to dry out and work properly.
- Weak and intermittent sound
- Crackling or static
- No sound at all
For the past 20 years, Francis Audiology has served patients all over Southwestern PA. We proudly offer custom-made ear molds for swimmers, and guarantee fast service as we use a local laboratory for ear mold fabrication. We can also ship custom ear molds right to your door! Our dedicated team is ready to assist you with all of your hearing health needs. Request an appointment online to be seen by one of our certified audiologists, or call 724-441-8695 today.
