My Medical Blog: How to Prepare for Your Operation

If you suffer from hearing loss, a micro BTE hearing aid is the best way to enjoy your summer. You'll be able to stay safe while you enjoy the sun and hear everything your family and friends have to say. However, it's important to remember that summer presents unique challenges for these miracle devices. If you want to keep your hearing aid in the best condition this summer, follow these three tips.

Find a Cool, Dry Place to Store It

The worst thing you can do during the summer is store your hearing aid in the direct path of the high Australian sun. Hearing aids are powered by a tiny, delicate computer circuit, and this chip is sensitive to high temperatures. If left in excessive heat, your hearing aid could quickly become damaged. The same goes for moisture. Storing your hearing aid in a humid environment leads moisture to gather around the microphone and the receiver. This clogs the hearing aid, causing poor performance and eventually damage. That's why it's important to store yours in a cool, dry place when it's not in use. For many people, a bedside table is a good place, as most people typically keep their bedrooms cool and dry to aid sleep.

Use a Desiccant If You Need To

If you don't have a dehumidifier at home, you may find it hard to keep your hearing aid moisture-free during summer. In this case, don't hesitate to use a desiccant—this is the moisture-absorbing substance you often find in new shoes and other goods that are sensitive to moisture. There are special desiccants available for hearing aids that are designed to keep moisture away without damaging the hearing aid or posing a threat to your health. These are often marketed as dry-aid kits or simply hearing aid dehumidifiers. When using a desiccant, preserve the lifespan by always keeping it sealed to prevent moisture from getting in.

Beware of Sweat

When trying to keep your hearing aid dry, don't forget one of the most common moisture sources summer brings about—sweat. A good hearing aid can tolerate daily perspiration throughout the cooler months, but when summer hits, even the best hearing aid will succumb to high levels of sweat. If you do sweat often during the summer, remember to remove your hearing aid often and open the battery door to let air circulate and dry the device out. You may also want to carry desiccant with you to absorb the sweat.

For more information, contact a micro BTE hearing aid provider near you.