How Humidity Affects Your Hearing Aids

With the summer months bringing better weather, most people welcome the sunshine and warmer temperatures. But alongside the bright sunshine, the summer can also bring a lot of humid weather. Humidity can also occur in other aspects of daily life, such as the bathroom, at a spa and many other places.

If you have a hearing aid, it’s important to understand the impact humidity can have. As hearing aids are prone to damage when wet, humidity could also cause issues for your hearing aid. 

Learn more about how humidity affects your hearing aid and the steps you can take to preserve yours from damage.

About Humidity

Humidity generally refers to moisture in the air. When the air feels wet, that’s a sign that the moisture content of the surrounding air is high. This can happen when there’s warm, damp weather, but it can also happen in a warm, wet space such as a bathroom.

Humid conditions can be uncomfortable for most people, making it difficult to cool off. But it can also have an impact on items that aren’t waterproof, including electronics such as your hearing aid. 

Humidity and Your Hearing Aid

As an electronic device, your hearing aid is susceptible to water damage. Humidity may not seem like much of a threat, but even low moisture content can cause internal damage to your hearing aid, impacting the delicate electronic elements inside it.

When moisture enters your hearing aid, it can damage the battery, processing chips and the internal components that enable your hearing aid to function. Some of the signs that your hearing aids are damaged include:

• Crackling or static sound
• Sound from hearing aid is distorted.
• Sound is quieter than it should be.
• Device cuts out intermittently. 
• Device has stopped working altogether.

There could be other factors to blame for some of these issues, such as a low battery or another cause of damage, but if you suspect there is moisture damage, then you’ll want to have the device inspected by an audiologist as soon as possible.

Protecting Your Hearing Aid from Damage

Most water damage to your hearing aid is avoidable by taking sensible precautions and avoiding contact with water. But when it comes to humid conditions, there are other steps you can take to make sure your hearing aid is protected. Some of the things you can do include:

Choose a Water-Resistant Hearing Aid

If you’re concerned about humidity or water damage, then you should consider investing in a water-resistant hearing aid. These types of hearing aid are made with nanocoating, and will have a high ingress protection (IP) rating. You can ask your audiologist for recommendations to help you choose the most suitable hearing aid for your needs.

Invest in a Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier can have a number of benefits for your home. It can help prevent damp, mold and helps make the air in your home cleaner. It can also protect your hearing aid and other electronic devices from moisture damage.

Buy a Drying Storage Solution

There are special storage solutions available for your hearing aids that can help keep them dry. Featuring special drying crystals, they can protect your hearing aid overnight. If it’s particularly humid, and you don’t have one of these solutions, then a bag or container filled with some dried rice grains can also help absorb any excess moisture.

Store Your Hearing Aids in a Cool, Dry Place

Give some thought to where you store your hearing aids. You should aim to store them in a cool, dry place – away from direct heat and sunlight. Excess heat can cause damage to your hearing aids as well, so make sure you choose a sensible location to store them when not in use.

What to Do If You Suspect a Problem

Even by taking different precautions to protect your hearing aids, you can still encounter a problem from time to time. If your hearing aid isn’t working as it should be, make an appointment with your audiologist. They will be able to inspect your device and recommend repairs or replacement if needed.

When choosing your hearing aid, it’s important to consider your lifestyle and where you live to help you choose the right one for your needs. Your audiologist will be able to provide you with useful advice and recommendations to ensure you’re choosing a suitable device.

If you’re concerned about your hearing, or you’d discuss your hearing aid options, then The Speech and Hearing Center can help. Learn more about us or make an appointment by calling at 423-551-6770 today.