How Wearable Tech is Merging with Hearing Aids
Decades of research have revealed a clear link between hearing loss and
By: admin | August 9, 2016
After a long cold winter, we might welcome the warm temperatures but for hearing aids, summer is no picnic. The arrival of warm weather brings special concerns that require changes in how you care for your hearing aids.
How does summer hearing aid care differ from winter hearing aid care? Winter hearing aid maintenance should include keeping spare batteries on hand since cold temperatures can shorten battery life and tending to moisture buildup. Going from freezing temperatures into a warm building causes condensation to build up inside the hearing aids, and the resulting moisture can cause damage.
But moisture and condensation don’t take a vacation when it comes to the change of seasons. In fact, for a number of reasons, the risk of exposure to moisture increases in the warmer months. And moisture isn’t the only problem; summer also brings a whole host of other challenges for hearing aids that usually aren’t an issue in the winter.
Whether your hearing aids are accidentally exposed to water or just have normal condensation build-up, it is more important than ever to use a dry-aid kit overnight to remove moisture.
Especially for northern climates, one thing hearing aid wearers don’t have to worry about in the winter is sun damaging their hearing aids. But in the summer, hearing aids left exposed to sunlight are susceptible to damage. Made of plastic, hearing aid casings can melt if left for too long in direct sunlight. If you remove your hearing aids while outdoors, store them in the shade. Also avoid leaving your hearing aids in the car. While in the wintertime the only consequence may be shortened battery life, in hot weather, temperatures in a car can soar as high as 150 degrees causing serious damage to both the casings and the batteries.
One factor that is instrumental in helping your hearing aids perform their best in summer is the IP rating. IP stands for Ingress Protection, and rates the degree of resistance your particular hearing aids have to foreign substances like water, dust and allergens. The IP rating consists of two digits: the first digit refers to the degree of protection against solid matter such as sand, dust or allergens. The higher the number, the finer the particles that the hearing aid is protected against. The second digit refers to the level of resistance against the intrusion of clean water. Again, a higher number indicates better protection against permanent damage. If you live in a hot, humid environment or are particularly active in water sports, it might worth investigating water-resistant or waterproof hearing aids, which have an IP67 or IP68 rating.
Almost all hearing aids manufactured today offer some level of nano-coating. Nano-coating is a special coating applied to hearing aids that causes liquid or condensation to bead up and roll away. Check with your hearing care provider to find out the level of protection your hearing devices offer.
Summer fun doesn’t have to damage your hearing aids. Just remember, with just a little extra care and attention you can enjoy your summer and keep your hearing aids in tip- top shape.
Printed with permission from www.healthyhearing.com. Please visit our site for the original article: https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52666-What-you-need-to-know-about-summer-hearing-aid-care
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