Summer is out the door and autumn is officially here. The leaves are changing colors, grocery stores are lined with Halloween decorations and every coffee shop in Nevada is offering up their version of a pumpkin spiced latte.
While fall and winter seasons undoubtedly bring a lot of joy and celebration, the colder weather can cause some consternation for people who use hearing aids. Let’s look at a few of the issues that can arise when caring for your hearing aids in colder weather as well as a few tips to protect them and keep them functioning at their highest level.
Common Cold Weather Problems
- Condensation can cause a whole host of issues with your hearing aids. Like how your glasses may fog up when entering a warm indoor space after being out in the cold, condensation gathers on your hearing aids in the same way. The problem is that unlike your glasses you don’t notice the condensation on your hearing aids as easily, which makes it more likely to build up over time. Frequent condensation can eventually lead to corrosion, causing reduced battery life, acoustic feedback and power failure issues.
- Snow and rain aren’t particularly common in Las Vegas, even during the fall and winter months, but they still happen. Many people also take holiday trips to places like the Mount Rose Ski Resort or other snowy Nevada destinations. Whatever the case, if your hearing aids get wet it can cause similar issues to condensation.
- Windy conditions can cause unpleasant wind noise for some hearing aid users, though most modern hearing aids have noise cancelling features to help block the sound.
- Loose-fitting hats and hoods that we wear more commonly in cold weather can also cause unpleasant sounds in the form of high-pitched feedback which interferes with your ability to hear things clearly around you.
Solutions for Cold Weather Woes
- Use a drying box or dehumidifier made for hearing aids and let the device dry overnight. Make sure to remove the battery beforehand to allow air to circulate inside the hearing aid and prevent any possible damage to the battery.
- Use packets of silica gel or dried uncooked white rice if your hearing aids get wet and you don’t have access to a drying box. Find a clean jar to place the packets or rice in along with the hearing aids, close the lid, and let them dry for a few hours.
- Use a hearing aid sleeve or cover to help minimize wind noise.
- Wear a snug hat or use an umbrella next time you’re out in cold, wet weather.If you don’t have one, consider picking one up the next time you’re at Town Square Las Vegas or another shopping center or retail store.
To learn more about caring for hearing aids in cold weather or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, contact Nevada Ear + Sinus Institute today.
Call Nevada Ear + Sinus Institute at (702) 735-7668 for more information or to schedule an appointment.