You’ve probably been caught in the rain with no place to go to for shade and no umbrella. Just your luck, right? You’re wet. Your shoes are wet. Your bag is also wet. Everything’s wet. With just the thought of our mobile devices getting wet makes us sad and worried. What if it was our hearing aids in that sad condition?
Can I wear my hearing aid in the rain?
Hearing aids are made of very fragile and complex technology. The material used for it are not built for water activity. Most hearing aids are not advised to have contact with water because it can severely damage it. It can affect its performance and shorten its lifespan. Whether it is rainwater, water from the pool, while in the shower, or even sweat, it’s suggested that you take the time to remove them.
Aren’t my hearing aids strong enough?
While hearing aids are continually developed to enhance people’s different lifestyles, designed with the most advanced technology, and created with materials that gives it that robust protective layer, it can still be damaged. Like all items, if not taken care of properly, can give an early goodbye. Water is corrosive and can affect the electrical components of your device that is responsible for letting us hear.
We’ve listed a few tips that you can do in case you get your hearing aids wet. Check them out below.
1. Rinse them out first if it gets wet by dirty or salt water. If they get in contact with floodwater, a pond, or the ocean, make sure that you clean it first to remove it of any bacteria that will have direct contact with your ears.
2. You may try putting it in uncooked rice while it is in a plastic bag. You may also try silica gel bags. These two items act as a dehumidifier that would soak up the water in your hearing aid.
3. Do not use high heat in an attempt to dry off your device. A microwave, oven, or a radiator gives off very strong heat that would be even more damaging than water. As an alternative, you may opt to go with a table lamp. Just make sure that you don’t put it very close to the source of heat.
4. Remove the battery the moment it gets wet. Don’t try to turn it on to see if it still works. Batteries, once wet, corrodes and can cause more damage to your hearing aids. Immediately discard it instead.
5. Talk to a professional if you are still experiencing complications and trouble with your device. Our health professionals at Listening Lab would be more than willing to assist you and answer any questions that you may have regarding your hearing aids.
6. Invest in a waterproof or water resistant hearing aid. Does your lifestyle, activities, and body cause you to be in constant contact with water or sweat? Lucky for you there’s another alternative that you can do. Technology has been able to develop waterproof and water-resistant hearing aids!
Most, if not all, modern hearing aids are IP68-rated – the same rating you’ve probably heard smartphones, like iPhone XS, come with. 6 represents solid protection rating while 8 represents liquid protection rating, the highest rating there is. Thus, hearing aids with IP68 rating come with harmful dust protection and can be submerged up to 1.5 meter underwater for up to 30 minutes without a problem.
Learn to take care of your hearing aids so that they would function to the best extent and that they would have a prolonged life. Hearing aids are a significant investment and don’t make the mistake of throwing money down the drain with a simple mistake of having it in contact with water.
About The Listening Lab
Listening Lab is a home-grown company whose mission is to help our clients restore their hearing to enjoy the life that they desire. Experiencing hearing loss can be detrimental to one’s quality of life. Hence we commit to providing high-quality hearing solutions.
Our hearing solutions include hearing tests and treatment and prescribing hearing aids. Clients may come to get their hearing checked, and we will assess whether hearing aids are required.
If hearing aids are required, clients can choose from a variety of the best hearing aid brands we provide. Each of the products offers unique features that complement daily use and perform well in helping our clients enjoy the life that they desire.
