Summer is a wonderful time of year that many people have been waiting for since the fall/winter. In summer, you can enjoy the warm weather, sunbathe on the beach, or lie on the warm grass in the park. Summer is a time to relax and have fun. But few people think that with the advent of warmth increases the strain on our hearing organs and hearing aids! Do you want to rest with bright positive emotions? Do you want to have the energy for the year ahead? You must stay focused on solving your hearing problems!
Take care of your hearing aids the right way!
Hearing aids are indispensable aids for millions of people. They help the hard-of-hearing understand external sounds. These medical devices are essential tools for communicating with the world. Imagine going on a summer vacation and at the worst possible moment, your devices break!
A hearing aid breakdown is already an emergency for someone with hearing loss. Losing intimacy with the world is quite unpleasant. But the situation gets even worse when a person is away from home or a treating audiologist. At such a moment, rest becomes a challenge. And stress and worry replace the positive emotions of the trip. Of course, you can buy a hearing aid and continue to rest! But in any case, you’ll have to contact your audiologist to adjust the device. Today you can do it remotely! Plus, it’s an extra expense that you didn’t count on.
That is why the best solution in summer is to stay out of trouble! Try to protect your hearing aids from negative external influences. By the way, the likelihood of breakage due to dust, dirt, or water (sweat) in the summertime increases significantly!
How do you protect hearing aids?
It is easier to protect complex electronic devices from the influence of external factors than to buy during the rest. Follow the audiologists’ recommendations below:
- If it is not in your ear, try to protect it from sunlight and exposure to extremely high temperatures. Do not leave the device in the sun, for example, on the dashboard of your car or on a table directly in front of a window
- It is very important to keep your hearing instruments dry. For example, always remove your hearing aids before swimming in a pool or pond and keep them in a safe place
- When applying sunscreen, avoid getting it on the surface of the hearing aid
- Wear a sweat-absorbing headband when playing sports. If you are vacationing in an area with high humidity, use a dehumidifier for the hearing aid or leave the battery compartment open overnight. It’ll help remove excess moisture and prevent corrosion of the contacts.
If you plan to go on a trip, don’t forget to take everything you need for your hearing aid:
- Hearing aid cleaning tools
- Hearing accessories
- A battery charger or a supply of batteries (depending on the model of your device)
- Hearing aid case
These simple tips will help you protect your devices and save your vacation!
A few words about hearing protection
Protecting your hearing aids is an important factor for successful recreation. But it’s not just medical devices that deserve your attention. Your hearing organs can fail even if you don’t have hearing loss. Your hearing requires just as much attention as hearing aids. What should you protect your ears from during the summer holidays?
Noise impact
In summer, we spend most of our time outdoors, where the risk of exposure to excessive noise is higher. This is especially true during holidays. After all, no one canceled the premises of open-air parties or beach shows!
So-called noise-induced hearing loss can develop as a result of a single or repeatedly loud sound.
Some facts. A two-hour exposure to a sound of about 80-85 dB or a one-time exposure to the sound of exploding fireworks at 140-150 dB, if you are at close range, may be enough to damage your hearing. You should protect your ears from the negative effects of noise when going to beach parties or other noisy entertainment while on vacation. Use any device that you are comfortable with, and that matches the intensity of the current noise exposure. For example:
- Protective earplugs or headphones
- Silicone ear tips
Noise-induced hearing loss can happen to anyone at any age. To protect yourself, download any mobile noise decibel app to your gadget. Sound below 70 dB is safe for your hearing. 80-85 dB is the limit beyond which the risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss increases significantly! The louder the sound, the faster it can cause permanent hearing damage.
Ear infections
Summer is a fun time not only for people but also for bacteria that cause ear infections. Inflammation of the middle ear can put a damper on all your vacation plans. If you spend a lot of time in the water, whether it’s the sea or a swimming pool, you should be familiar with the feeling of blockage due to water getting into your ear. Water remaining in the ear canal can irritate its walls and create conditions for ear infections. They can cause temporary hearing loss and painful symptoms. It is called a swimmer’s ear!
Therefore, if water gets into the ear. Remove it as soon as possible. It is better to do it with a dry towel or special ear drops. But forget the cotton swabs! They should not be used, as you can damage the delicate skin of the ear canal. And any inflammatory spot is a favorite place for bacteria!
As the weather gets warmer, the environment around us changes. We spend more time outdoors, walking and hanging out with friends. The change of scenery after winter requires some adjustment if you suffer from hearing loss. But don’t be afraid of change! You’ll quickly get used to the new environment. Going on vacation, take care of your hearing and hearing aids. Enjoy your rest and happy emotions to the maximum!
