With the school year finally coming to a close, you and your family may find yourselves swarming to La Jolla Shores Beach, heading to the zoo or sitting down for picnics at the park. However you like to enjoy the summer heat, it’s important to consider how it affects your hearing aids.
How Does the Heat Affect Hearing Aids?
Hearing aids are like any electronic device in the sense that their battery, circuits and casings can overheat and suffer damage. When exposed to prolonged high heat, the batteries can degrade, the circuitry can malfunction, and the casing can warp, potentially leading to distorted sound and shorter lifespans.
How Can You Protect Your Hearing Aids?
Protecting your hearing aids from heat doesn’t mean you need to stop wearing them in the summer. Instead, it means you should reduce their exposure to unnecessarily high heat. A few ways you can do this include:
- Never store your hearing aids in a car. Although it may not feel too hot outside, the temperature in your car can reach dangerous levels on a summer day, especially if it is sitting in the sun. At these high temperatures, the internal components are at risk of suffering damage.
- Place your devices in the shade. If you’re lounging at the beach or dipping in and out of the ocean, don’t leave your devices in the sun. Instead, place them in their case, in a bag out of the sunlight.
- Wear a hat. Long hikes in the California summer can leave you hot and sweaty, and your hearing aids are not immune to this heat. Wearing a sun hat with a wide brim can help keep your devices in the shade—allowing you to enjoy all the sounds of your summer fun without damaging your hearing aids.
Enjoying all your favorite summer activities doesn’t have to mean you damage your hearing aids. By following these three simple tips for keeping your devices cool and dry, you can help ensure their longevity. To learn more about caring for your hearing aids, contact San Diego ENT today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.