Thinking about Getting a Waterproof Hearing Aid?
Hearing aids are durable electronic devices that require care. They’re vulnerable to damage from perspiration, rain, water, humidity, and other elements. If you’re an active adult who loves the outdoors, you’ll need a hearing device that is waterproof or highly water resistant.
Conditions that affect hearing aids
Where you live or work can impact your hearing aid. Perhaps you live in an area prone to frequent rain, such as on the coast. Dense fog or morning dew can affect hearing aids. If you work outdoors or in a kitchen that gets humid and you perspire easily, that can affect your hearing device.
Water, dew, dust, and moisture can cause corrosion to the metal parts inside a hearing aid, which can affect battery life and sound quality. Direct sunlight can cause warping or drained batteries, so it’s best to keep them out of direct sun.
Know the difference between waterproof and water resistant
Water-resistant models are built to handle usual, daily exposure to sweat, light rain, or humidity. They have seals and coatings that help prevent moisture from entering sensitive components.
Waterproof hearing aids offer a higher level of protection and can withstand more direct contact with water. The cases have overlapped panels to create a seamless, watertight seal, and specialized microphone covers can help prevent internal damage. A specialized water-repelling coating can also help block moisture.
What device you use depends on your lifestyle and how much time you spend around water. If you enjoy running, hiking or light outdoor activities, water-resistant devices may be enough.
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 out materials like dust, dirt, and debris. 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.
Tips for daily preventive care and proper storage
To help promote maximum life for your device, follow these tips.
- Always remove devices before showering, bathing, using a sauna or steam room.
- Store devices in protective waterproof cases and use a drying system overnight, whether electric or desiccant based.
- Wipe the surface, battery doors, charging ports, and microphones daily using a soft dry cloth.
- Keep the battery door open overnight to dry any trapped moisture and help it evaporate.
- Use hearing aid sleeves, which can protect your devices from humidity, rain, or sweat.
At Miami Valley Hearing and Balance, we can help you discuss the best hearing device to protect against water, dust and other elements. Our team provides expert hearing aid services for the people of Vandalia and Dayton.
Come in to discuss the best hearing aid for your needs!