How to Protect Your Hearing Aids in the Winter

Even though they are tiny, hearing aids pack a powerful punch and can really improve a person’s quality of life. However, hearing aids are sensitive devices, and they require care and attention to function properly, especially during the winter season. Unfortunately, the cold can pose a challenge to hearing aid users if the proper precautions are not followed. Cold and wintery conditions can cause performance problems to occur, and can even damage your device if you are not careful. However, you can ensure that you are prepared this winter by following some helpful, cold weather hearing aid tips.

If you wear hearing aids, you need to take some extra precautions this winter. If you want to hear your best, you need to ensure that your hearing aids are working correctly. To help protect your hearing aids from the cold, follow these helpful, cold weather hearing aid tips.

• When you go outside, make sure you keep your ears warm and your hearing aid protected by wearing a pair of earmuffs, a headband, or a hat. Serving a dual purpose, wearing headgear can keep your head and ears warm, and protect your hearing aids at the same time. Condensation is less likely to form if your ears are kept warm. Also, if you happen to exercise outdoors, wearing headgear can help protect your hearing aids from sweat.

• When you are not using your hearing aid, make sure you store it in a safe location and keep your battery compartment open. When your device is not in use, make sure you open the battery compartment and remove the batteries. With the batteries removed, they are less likely to drain as quickly, and with the battery compartment left open, the hearing aid can thoroughly dry out.

• When you are storing your hearing aid when it’s not in use, use a drying case or a hearing aid dehumidifier to protect your hearing aid from built-up moisture further. A drying case or dehumidifier can go a long way, protecting the delicate circuitry found inside a hearing aid, especially during the winter. Certain cases can even function as a sanitation device!

• Your hearing aid needs juice to function correctly. However, batteries and the cold don’t usually mix well, and sometimes your batteries can quickly drain due to the winter cold. While you can’t do much to prevent this, other than trying to keep your ears and device as warm as possible, you can ensure that you always have spare batteries on hand.

• Hearing aids are sensitive devices and do not handle drops in temperature very well. Due to this, you must never leave your hearing aid overnight in your car during the winter. Even if you keep your hearing aids in a case, hearing aids are far too sensitive to leave them out in your car overnight when the temperatures are low.