If you work out with your hearing aids, you don’t need to stop being active during warm weather. You should, however, pay a little more attention to moisture.
Sweat, heat and humidity can build up around microphones, receivers and other delicate components of a hearing aid, but for most people, a simple post-workout routine and occasional professional maintenance are enough to keep hearing aids performing well throughout the hottest months of the year.
Why Exercise Can Be Hard on Hearing Aids
Whether you’re walking indoors on a treadmill, attending a fitness class or spending time outside gardening and hiking, sweat tends to find its way into places you’d rather it didn’t.
What this often looks like in real life is simple. You finish a workout, feel fine and put your hearing aids right back into their charging case. Days later, sound seems weaker or less crisp. In many cases, moisture and debris have been quietly collecting over time.
A Practical Cleaning Schedule Based on Your Routine
The more often you work out, the more attention your hearing aids will need.
If you work out:
- Twice a month: Wipe hearing aids with a dry cloth after each workout and continue your regular daily cleaning routine.
- Once a week: Perform post-workout wipe downs every session and inspect microphone openings and wax guards weekly.
- Three times a week or more: Clean hearing aids after every workout and consider using a hearing aid drying system overnight several times each week.
The American Academy of Audiology notes that daily cleaning and regular maintenance help extend hearing aid performance and lifespan.1
Simple Ways to Reduce Sweat Exposure
A few small habits can make a noticeable difference:
- Wear a sweatband that covers the tops of your ears during outdoor walks, yard work or exercise sessions.
- Remove hearing aids before showering, swimming or using a sauna.
- Store hearing aids in a cool, dry location rather than a humid bathroom.
- Wipe devices down as soon as possible after exercise.
For many people in the Western North Carolina Foothills and throughout the Hickory Metro and Catawba Valley region, summer humidity can linger well into the evening. That makes an overnight drying routine especially helpful.
Can Sweat Damage Hearing Aids?
Yes. Repeated exposure to moisture can contribute to corrosion, clogged openings and reduced sound quality. Most modern hearing aids are designed to handle everyday moisture, but routine drying and cleaning remain important.
Should I Wear a Sweatband With Hearing Aids?
For many active adults, yes. A lightweight sweatband can help reduce perspiration reaching the hearing aids and may improve comfort during walks, workouts and outdoor activities.
Consider a Professional Cleaning Before Winter
Summer and early fall can be surprisingly tough on hearing aids. If you’ve spent months exercising outdoors, traveling or working in the yard, a professional cleaning before winter is a smart reset.
Professional cleanings can remove wax and moisture from hard-to-reach areas. It also gives our specialist the opportunity to check that your hearing aids are functioning properly before colder weather arrives.
At Carolina Ear Nose & Throat – Sinus and Allergy Center, we view hearing aid maintenance as part of your overall hearing health care. If your devices have been through a busy summer, scheduling a professional cleaning can help you head into the next season with confidence and clear sound.
Sources
1 American Academy of Audiology. “An Audiologist’s Guide to Cleaning Your Hearing Aids.” https://audiologists.org/resources/hearing-wellness/cleaning-hearing-aids