How to Protect Your Hearing Aids While Swimming in Philadelphia, PA
If you plan on spending a lot of time at the local pool or aquatic center, it’s essential to know how to properly protect your hearing aids while having fun in the water. You might be under the impression your active lifestyle days are over when you get hearing aids. However, hearing aid technology has come a long way in recent decades. From water-resistant hearing aids to waterproof devices, you can continue to enjoy all the physical activities you love while keeping your investment safe.
Below, the hearing care providers at Main Line Audiology discuss ways patients can adequately protect their hearing aids while swimming. We’re committed to ensuring you feel confident and comfortable about your hearing aid treatment plan, regardless of your lifestyle. Contact our team today for more tips about protecting your devices while swimming and learn about the hearing aids we recommend for active users in Philadelphia, PA and the surrounding areas.
Can You Swim With Hearing Aids?
Most hearing aids on the market today are advertised as being moisture or water-resistant but not waterproof. While a few tiny droplets of sweat from a workout won’t damage them, they’re not designed to be submerged in the shower or swimming pool. Like all electronics, hearing aids don’t mix well with water or other moisture.
What’s the Best Way to Keep Them Dry?
Keeping your hearing aids away from any area that has moisture, like a pool deck, ensures you don’t get any water on or inside the components of your device. Start a habit of taking your hearing aids out and storing them securely in their own designated case before getting in the pool.
Useful Hearing Aid Accessories to Consider
There are several hearing aid accessories designed to protect your devices from moisture or remove any moisture if they accidentally get wet, including:
- Hearing Aid Covers & Sleeves – Made of water-resistant spandex nylon, these cover your hearing aids to keep out moisture. However, they still allow sound to enter the microphone so you can hear clearly. These won’t protect your devices if submerged in water, but they can minimize damage from an accidental splash.
- Hearing Aid Cords – You can attach these to your hearing aids and clothing to prevent your devices from falling into the water.
- Waterproof Container – The storage container you use to keep your hearing aids safe and secure while swimming should be waterproof for added protection.
- Hearing Aid Drying Box – These use heat and air to remove moisture from hearing aids while you sleep at night. They also come in handy if your hearing aids accidentally get wet.
What Should I Do if My Hearing Aids Get Wet?
Part of your daily hearing aid care routine should involve checking to ensure they’re dry and removing the batteries before storing them. If they were exposed to moisture like sweat or rain, you should completely remove the batteries and let them dry overnight. If they are exposed to a lot of water, you can try to save your hearing aids with the following troubleshooting tips:
- Put them on a piece of newspaper and let them air-dry for at least 24 hours before replacing the batteries and testing to see if they work. You can try placing them near a table lamp to speed up the drying process, but your hearing aids should never be exposed to hot light bulbs that could damage them further.
- Place them in a sealed bag with a cup of uncooked white rice and let it sit overnight. Rice can draw moisture from electronic devices, much like a dehumidifier.
- Use a hairdryer or fan on a cool setting to speed up the drying process.
- If your hearing aids still don’t work after a night of drying them, contact your hearing care providers at Main Line Audiology for further assistance.
Inquire About Hearing Aid Insurance
If you feel like you’re accident-prone or want added protection for your hearing aids, you can look into insurance policies to help cover any damages they might endure over the course of your hearing loss treatment plan. Different manufacturers offer different policies, so it’s best to research and reach out to the experts at Main Line Audiology to see what options are available to you.
Contact Main Line Audiology to Schedule an Appointment
Contact us for assistance with your hearing aids or to learn more about what we offer patients throughout the region. Swimming can sometimes result in an ear infection. If you have any symptoms of a clogged ear or ear infection from water in your ears after swimming, our hearing care providers will inspect your ear canal to determine the cause. You can also schedule an appointment online to dive into your hearing healthcare during a one-on-one consultation at one of our conveniently located hearing care centers in Philadelphia, PA and the surrounding areas, including Jenkintown and Audubon. We look forward to hearing from you!
