It’s June in Upstate South Carolina, which means high humidity and temperatures climbing ever higher. This is great weather for a picnic or beach day, but if you’re a hearing aid user, you will need to take some extra precautions in weather like this. Watch out for these common hearing aid issues in hot and humid weather.
Sound Issues and Malfunctions
Both heat and moisture can cause significant damage to the internal components of your hearing aids. The delicate circuitry and processors can be hurt when exposed to these elements. If this happens, you may notice issues such as:
- Sound distortion. Sounds seem “tinny” or “far away.”
- Sound dampening. Sounds seem muffled and less crisp, almost like they’re underwater, due to the high moisture content in the air.
- Volume issues. Sounds are too quiet, even with the volume cranked up.
- Feedback.
What You Can Do
Limit your devices’ exposure to heat and moisture whenever possible. Wear a wide-brimmed hat or other covering on hot days to keep direct sun rays and moisture off your hearing aids, and never leave your hearing aids in hot places, like in the car. Stay indoors on days with extreme weather.
Battery Issues
Moisture from any source can wreak havoc on your hearing aid batteries. You may think that humidity isn’t strong enough to have these effects; don’t be complacent. If you’ve spent a day out in the humid air and don’t properly dry your hearing aids, it can build up and have devastating effects. This will cause battery issues such as:
- Shortened battery life
- Powering off suddenly
- Recharging issues
- Corrosion on the battery and in the battery compartment
What You Can Do
Use a hearing aid dry box every night to remove any moisture that may have built up over the course of the day, especially if you spent a lot of time outdoors. Leave the battery compartment open to air it out.
If your hearing aids have been exposed to significant moisture, such as wearing them into the shower or pool on accident, use an electric hearing aid dryer immediately.
Physical Damage
Hearing aid casings are made out of plastic, meaning they’re susceptible to warping or melting in high temperatures. This can impede functionality and their fit inside your ear. Moisture buildup can also cause the tubing to crack for BTE hearing aids.
What You Can Do
Similar to how you can protect against internal heat damage, you can protect against external heat and moisture damage by shielding your hearing aids when you’re in extreme weather. If you do notice any physical damage, bring them to us for a service and repair appointment.
Discomfort
Even if your hearing aids don’t get damaged in the hot weather, heat can cause them to expand; they may still warp just enough to make their fit in your ear slightly uncomfortable. Perhaps they even fall out of your ears. Additionally, your ears have sweat glands inside of them that produce sweat when you’re too hot, making it harder for your hearing aids to seal and stay put.
What You Can Do
Take breaks from the hot weather. A quick 20-minute indoor break will give your hearing aids a break from the hot weather so they can return to their original dimensions and give your ears a chance to dry out.
If you notice any issues with your hearing aids, call us at Spartanburg-Greer ENT & Allergy. We can help you address heat- and moisture-related issues, as well as discuss more strategies for beating the heat and keeping your precious devices in good working order.