You probably already know that you shouldn’t get your hearing aids wet, but you might have forgotten about humidity, especially in our humid Southern climate. As the weather warms up and we begin to look forward to spring, let’s discuss the climate’s effects on your hearing aids.
The Effects of Humidity on Hearing Aids
Moisture exposure can cause all kinds of issues with hearing aids, and that’s not limited to accidentally wearing your hearing aids into the shower or pool. Daily exposure to small things, like humidity in the air or sweat, can accumulate over time and cause just as many problems. This can be especially hazardous because prolonged exposure to humidity gives moisture a chance to seep into your devices, rather than just gather on the surface of the hearing aid.
Over time, moisture can cause:
- Corrosion on the battery or in the battery compartment, severely shortening your battery life and power
- Damage to the speaker, which may cause reduced or muffled sound quality
- Damage to the microphone, which can also distort sound or create static, as it affects how your hearing aids collect sound waves
- Cracked tubing for behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, which affects how sound travels into the ear
- Malfunctions of the internal electrical components, resulting in power issues, sound issues and other performance problems.
How to Combat the Effects of Humidity
You don’t want humidity to dampen your enjoyment of the warm Mobile weather this spring and summer. There are some actions you can take to help keep moisture damage at bay.
- Watch the weather. Check the local weather forecast every day and plan accordingly on high-humidity days. Try to stay indoors if possible, and take extra precautions throughout the day with moisture in mind.
- Cover your hearing aids. Sometimes the simplest solution is also the best one. Covering your hearing aids with a protective sleeve or hat whenever you’re outside can help keep a lot of humid air from reaching your delicate devices.
- Use a hearing aid dehumidifier. These small jars gently lift moisture from your hearing aids. Use your dehumidifier every night to remove the day’s moisture from your hearing aids.
What to Do If You Notice Signs of Moisture Damage
As discussed above, moisture in your hearing aids can lead to battery issues, sound issues, cracked tubing and malfunctioning. If you notice anything like this, make an appointment with your audiologist for hearing aid service and repair. At this appointment, your audiologist will perform a thorough cleaning and examine your hearing aids to assess the extent of the moisture damage.
If you need to schedule a repair appointment, call Premier Medical Group today.