An article published in the journal Trends in Amplification listed “performance in quiet settings, comfort, feedback, frequency of battery replacement, purchase price, water and sweat resistance, and performance in noisy settings” as the top requested hearing aid features among consumers.
In this post, we focus on the feature “water and sweat resistance” – more specifically, what it means for a hearing aid to be waterproof versus water resistant.
Which Hearing Aids Are Waterproof?
There is only one hearing aid model on the market today that is completely waterproof, meaning it can be submerged in water up to one meter deep for up to 30 minutes. It can handle this amount of submersion because it is made with a single-piece casing and has specialty waterproof membranes between each of the compartments. You can talk to a provider at San Francisco Audiology if you wish to learn more about this hearing aid model.
Which Hearing Aids Are Water-Resistant?
Most of today’s hearing aids have some degree of water resistance, meaning they can handle being splashed or exposed to sweat on occasion. This is thanks to protective Nano-coatings and other features. Hearing aids are issued IP ratings based on how well they resist moisture; the higher the rating, the more water-resistant. It’s important to note, however, even devices with high IP ratings cannot be submerged in water.
How to Protect Your Devices from Moisture
Unless you invest in the hearing aid model that is totally waterproof, it’s important to take the following measure to ensure moisture does not damage your hearing aids:
- Wipe them down. At the end of each day, wipe down your hearing aids with a soft, dry, clean cloth to remove moisture from the outer shell.
- Open the battery doors. After cleaning your hearing aids, open the battery doors to allow any remaining moisture to evaporate.
- Get a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are a great place to store your hearing aids in at night to remove any residual moisture within your devices.
- Invest in sweat covers. If you enjoy working out or consider yourself to be a sweaty person, invest in sweat covers, which are sleeves that go around your hearing aids and repel moisture.
- Take them out. When swimming at Mission Pool in the Mission District, bathing, showering or doing any other water-based activities, take them out!
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, call San Francisco Audiology today.