Top Tips for Maintaining Your Hearing Aids during the Fall Season

Fall is a beautiful time of year; the leaves are fading from green to bright oranges and yellows, and the air has a crispness about it. However, the cooler weather can have a significant impact on your ear health and your hearing aid. Hearing aids are incredibly reliable, but they do need to have some extra care taken in the cooler months. The hearing aid itself isn’t impacted by the cold unless you spend hours in it each day. The issue that you need to be aware of in the fall months is moisture.

Condensation build-up inside a hearing aid is a common issue in the fall. Going from the cool outside air into the warm home or workplace and back out again causes condensation to build up. And have you ever noticed that even in the fall, you can get a bit too warm when the sun comes out of nowhere? Even a bit of extra sweat can make its way into the hearing aid. Sweat, humidity and condensation can log the sound outlet, tubing, receiver and microphone.

How Does the Cold Affect Your Ears?

Cold weather can have various impacts on our ears. Initially, it can result in the narrowing of blood vessels within the ear, causing reduced blood flow and potentially leading to a sensation of coldness. Cold conditions may also cause earwax to harden and become more susceptible to blocking the ear canal. Especially in the presence of wind chill or if moisture becomes trapped inside the ear, increasing the likelihood of experiencing a sense of fullness or even ear infections. It’s crucial to prioritize ear protection and warmth in cold weather to minimize these potential effects.

During this season, hats and earmuffs will keep your hearing aids and ears protected during the fall season. One of the most common problems stemming from cold weather is the accumulation of trapped water, which can lead to infections and earwax buildup.

How Does the Cold Affect a Hearing Aid?

The cold itself doesn’t directly impact the hearing aid; it is the rest of the factors that happen during the fall months. Sleet, heavy winds, condensation, rainwater and even sweat can build up in the hearing aid. Talk with your audiologist about the ways to protect your hearing aids, during the fall season. They might suggest having a sleeve to protect your hearing aids from moisture.

How Can You Tell If Your Hearing Aid Has Moisture Damage?

Without proper and regular maintenance, you might notice a few things don’t work quite right with your hearing aid:

• The hearing aid might intermittently cut out during loud noises.
• Sound comes through, but it is distorted.
• The hearing aid stops working, then starts again.

You can troubleshoot some of the issues by checking the battery, cleaning the battery contact points and removing debris. It is also a good idea to check for battery corrosion, which leaves a white powdery residue on the battery contact and sometimes on the battery too. Check any gaps and tubes and check for clogs and earwax build-ups. Communicate with your audiologist about how to effectively maintain your hearing aids, to keep them in optimal condition.

How Can You Protect Your Hearing Aid from Moisture?

There are several ways you can protect your hearing aids from moisture. Taking good care of your hearing aid is a must during the cooler months, and here are some of the steps you need to take to keep your hearing aid moisture-free:

• Earmuffs are a great way to keep your ears warm and to keep light drizzle out of your hearing air.
• An umbrella and a large hood can prevent heavier rain from entering your hearing aid.

What Can You Do If Your Hearing Aid Does Get Exposed to Moisture?

Even while taking the most amount of care, it is still possible to get some moisture in your hearing aid. These include:

• Switch the hearing aid off as soon as possible.
• Remove the battery, dry it off and then dry the contact points for the battery, too.
• Gently shake the hearing aid and battery compartment to help remove any excess water.
• If you have a hearing aid dehumidifier, put them in.
• If you don’t have a hearing aid humidifier, rest the hearing aid on a paper towel or newspaper.

Even if your hearing aid doesn’t get wet, it is good practice to make sure that you carefully clean the hearing aid every day.

Good hearing aid care is something that you need to keep on top of every day; talking to your audiologist can ensure you have all the correct information for taking care of your hearing aid all year round! To talk about your hearing or schedule a hearing test, call The Hearing and Tinnitus Center at (720) 420-7780.