Hearing Aid Tips for Active People
Sports and hearing aids always have been a complicated combination. The moisture from sweat, the dirt, and the constant movement during play can damage your expensive hearing aids. For some, removing the hearing aids for the duration of the play is the best solution. However, hearing is a big part of any sport (just Imagine not hearing your team-mate shout "Pass" during an all-important football match). Therefore, it is necessary that you wear your hearing aids while playing sports. Thankfully, manufacturers today have been making their hearing aids much better equipped to deal with the elements that damage hearing aids. A majority of hearing aids now are water and dust resistant.
Not to be too dependent on the built-in protection, though, you too can take a few steps to ensure that your hearing aids are safe while you play your favorite sport. Here's how:
Keep them dry
If you're a person who loves sports, it is always helpful to remind yourself that hearing aids have delicate internals that can be easily damaged by moisture. And, since these parts are hard to reach, once moisture gets inside them, there's no way to get rid of the moisture. Therefore, a very worthwhile investment is to purchase a hearing aid dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers can come in handy while you play and when moisture, in the form of sweat, makes its way to the internals. Another handy tip is to brush the hearing aid in the morning or at night so that the excess dirt and wax can be cleaned.
Use headbands
Using a normal headband can keep sweat from soaking your hearing aids, thus protecting the internals. You can also find other accessories that perform the same role as headbands. For instance, Headbands fit easily over hearing aids (giving the devices added protection from dirt and sweat). If you're style conscious, you'll be glad to learn that these headbands also come in a variety of colors.
On the playing field
Dehumidifiers are pretty adept at removing excess moisture from your hearing aids, but you can take things up a notch or two by using something called a portable "puffer.” This nifty little device blows small amounts of air through the hearing aid molding and tubing, making them obstruction free.
Hearing aid tubing
Behind-the-ear hearing aids have a tube that runs from the earpiece inside to the outer shell. Most of the time, this piece can be easily removed and repaired for cleaning purposes. However, this process becomes tough when you regularly play sports, as there is a more substantial amount of moisture and dirt that builds up. In such cases, acquiring extra tubing helps to ensure that complications like these can be easily taken care of.
If you have an active lifestyle, feel free to discuss the options you might have available with your hearing professional. In the world we live in today, there's a hearing aid for almost anyone.