An estimated 28.8 million people in the U.S. could benefit from hearing aids.[1] These remarkable devices collect and amplify speech and important background noise to help you connect with the world. To enjoy the benefits of your hearing aids for as long as possible, you need to take good care of them. One care tip that’s extra crucial during the summer is to protect your hearing aids against water damage.
Water Damage and Hearing Aids
Like any electronic device, hearing aids are sensitive to moisture. If moisture gets into the casing of your hearing aids, it can damage the delicate internal components, potentially leading to sound issues, poor battery life, or even shutting down your devices altogether.
Are Some Hearing Aids Waterproof?
How waterproof a hearing aid is will determine its Ingress Protection (IP) rating. The rating has two numbers: one measuring how dust-proof the devices are, and one measuring how waterproof they are. Newer hearing aids often carry an IP68 rating, indicating that they’re dust-proof and protected against continuous immersion in water.
Even with a high IP rating, you shouldn’t dive into the pool at the Bacon Aquatic Center wearing your hearing aids. The high rating is intended to protect against accidents, like dropping your hearing aids in the pool or splashing them. If those accidents happen, water damage is unlikely as long as you dry out your devices.
Drying Your Hearing Aids
If you forget to remove your hearing aids before cannon-balling into the pool, you can prevent water damage by acting fast. Remove your devices from the water and gently towel-dry them. Next, turn off your hearing aids. If they have disposable batteries, open the battery doors and remove the batteries. Finally, place your hearing aids in a specialty electric dehumidifier or a drying jar filled with desiccating beads. The next morning, put your hearing aids back in your ears and pay attention to the sound quality; if you notice crackling, low volume or whistling, schedule a professional repair.
During a professional repair, we’ll remove moisture from your hearing aids and look for signs of damage. If we find an issue, we’ll either repair it in-office or send your devices to the manufacturer.
Call Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants today to schedule your repair & service appointment with one of our specialists.
[1] National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2024). Quick statistics about hearing, balance, & dizziness. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing