In contrast to popular opinion, winter is fun! Well, if you have to go somewhere, it can certainly be a challenge. Or if you’re not properly prepared. But during those chilly winter months, you can find plenty of fun things to do.
Still not convinced? Skiing and sledding aren’t the only fun things you can do in the winter. You could go for a snowmobile ride. You could go out onto the ice for some ice skating or ice fishing. With the right gear, winter can be just as much of an outdoor season as spring, summer, or fall (and the hot chocolate is so much more satisfying when you’ve been outside in the cold).
But the key here is using the appropriate gear. You might be thinking: Does my hearing aid count as “the right gear”… and if so, will cold air impact my hearing aids? Will the cold damage my hearing aids?
Up to a point, most hearing aids will be okay in any weather
Hearing aids are designed to be used full-time. They’re meant to be worn pretty much everywhere you go. Which means that hearing aid makers understand that these devices may take a beating. But just because hearing aids are designed to be worn all of the time doesn’t mean you should do anything extreme with them.
Most hearing aids are built to be basically “all weather” as a result. The safe temperature range for the majority of hearing aids is from -13 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit. That covers the broad spectrum of temperature possibilities (although there are some places, especially up north, that will occasionally get colder than -13 degrees).
You will be able to hear well in the majority of settings and that’s a great thing. So why don’t my hearing aids seem to work as well when it’s really cold? Hearing aids will function in the cold, just maybe not as well.
Tips for hearing aids in the winter
You can keep your hearing aids operating at near peak efficiency if you take a few steps.
- It helps to wear a hat or earmuffs: Wearing earmuffs or a hat will keep both your ears and your hearing aid toasty. And the warmer your hearing aids are, the more ideally they’ll be working. Perhaps you’re wondering whether your hearing aids will still function if you have earmuffs over them. Well, it depends on the hearing aid, but in most cases, your hearing aids will still continue to work.
- Make sure you have freshly charged batteries: Hearing aid batteries don’t necessarily freeze but they will drain quicker in the cold. This means you’ll want to make sure you have a full charge before going out into any severe weather.
- Make use of accessories to keep your hearing aids secured to your ears: There are all manner of straps and clips you can use to make sure your hearing aids stay in place. This can be especially important if you’re involved in strenuous activity, including skiing, skating, or sledding.
- Letting your hearing aids get wet isn’t a good idea: When snow melts, it becomes water, so be careful about exposing your hearing aids to snow. If you’re wondering whether you can use your hearing aids in the snow and rain, the answer is yes. Even though most hearing aren’t waterproof, they are normally water resistant. This means your hearing aid can most likely get a little wet, but it’s not a very good idea to leave it that way longer than you have to.
- Keep your hearing aids somewhere warm and dry when you aren’t wearing them: This will help prevent moisture from causing issues with your hearing aids. You’re probably asking: “How do I remove moisture from my hearing aids”? In the majority of cases, you can dry it off and then put it someplace dry and warm.
- We can help make sure your hearing aid fits correctly: Hearing aids can sometimes be uncomfortable when they’re cold. Talk to us about the fit of your devices in order to give yourself the opportunity to minimize discomfort.
Maybe you’re wondering how to safeguard your hearing aids when it gets cold. That’s precisely what we’re going to find out.
If your hearing aid quits working, what should you do?
Sometimes, unfortunately, your hearing aid will quit working even when the weather is warm and dry. There are a few standard troubleshooting measures you can take (make sure your device is dry and the batteries are charged, for example). But if those steps aren’t helpful, we should be able to help you diagnose the cause of the issue and the best way to fix it.
You can still enjoy life even when it’s cold!
There are plenty of reasons why you may want to stay inside when it’s -10 degrees outside. Perhaps you aren’t a winter person. Perhaps a nice hot bowl of soup would do the trick. Possibly snowmobiles aren’t your jam. The essential thing is that it shouldn’t be your hearing aids that are preventing you from living your greatest winter life.
If you observe the guidelines above and take good care of your hearing aids, this is especially true. If you have any questions about how cold weather might impact the performance of your hearing aids, call us today!