Why You May Want a Waterproof Hearing Aid
If you’re an active adult who enjoys the great outdoors, maybe a hiker or swimmer, you may be concerned about the right hearing device to use. What’s best for hiking in humid weather? What should you use if you like to swim often?
Other factors such as the different seasons or where you work may affect your hearing aid.
- Summer is typically a more humid time than other seasons and may impact your hearing aid.
- Traveling to hot, tropical, and humid locations may affect your hearing device.
- Working outdoors, such as on a dusty construction site, or in a kitchen that gets humid, causing you to sweat easily.
Waterproof and water resistant—how to know the difference
Water-resistant models can handle the usual, daily exposure to sweat, light rain, or humidity.
Waterproof hearing aids offer a higher level of protection and can withstand more direct contact with water. They have cases designed with overlapping panels to create a seamless, watertight seal, and specialized microphone covers can help prevent internal damage.
How to choose: If you enjoy walking, hiking or light outdoor activities, water-resistant devices may be sufficient. But if you enjoy swimming, boating, or other water-based activities, you may need a more protective device.
Know that no hearing aid is 100% waterproof, so it may be best to just remove your device before taking long laps.
How to check if your hearing aid is waterproof
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) establishes ratings for consumer products based on their protection against dust, water, and other external elements. The rating is called an IP Code or Ingress Protection Code.
- The higher the numbers in the code (on a scale from 0 to 9), the better protection the hearing aid provides against dust and moisture.
- The first digit in an IP code measures how well the device keeps materials like dust and dirt out of your device.
- The second digit measures protection against liquids. So, an IP68 means they’re dust-tight (6) and protected against water immersion (8).
IP68 is currently the highest waterproof rating for hearing aids on the market now.
Ways to protect your hearing device
Regular maintenance can help keep your aid functioning well and protect it from the elements. You should always monitor your aid for signs of damage, such as muffled sound, static, drained battery, and working intermittently.
- Remove your aid before using a steam room or sauna.
- Keep them out of direct sunlight and use a protective case.
- Wipe your hearing aids after using a dry, soft cloth to help clean any excess moisture and remove dust from the outer casing.
- Store your hearing aids in a dehumidifier, which can help prevent moisture damage. There are simple plastic containers with a desiccant or ones with a tiny electric fan.
- Open the battery doors when not in use to allow air to flow freely.
- Use protective accessories like sweat covers for behind-the-ear models.
At Audiology Associates, our team provides expert hearing aid services for the people of Santa Clarita and Pasadena.
We’ll help you determine the best hearing device for your active lifestyle. Call us now!