You probably already know that moisture is bad for your hearing aids, and likewise take the necessary precautions around showers, pools and other water hazards. But have you considered sweat? Sweat can also introduce moisture to your hearing aids.
Yes, Your Ears Sweat, Too
You have sweat glands all over your body, mostly in the armpits and genital areas, but there are also sweat glands inside your ear canal. The sweat produced by the glands inside your ear has an essential function: to create earwax, or cerumen. This sweat mixes with peptides and other substances secreted by the sebaceous glands to form the sticky, yellow, wax-like substance we call earwax.
On a hot day or after a hard workout, all your body’s sweat glands create sweat to help cool down the surface of the skin. This goes for the sweat glands inside your ear, too. If you’re particularly sweaty, odds are your ears are also producing sweat.
How Sweat Impacts Hearing Aids
Just like with any moisture exposure, inner ear sweat and sweat dripping down from your temples and hair line can infiltrate the hearing aids and cause moisture damage to the delicate internal electrical components. It can also damage the battery, leading to corrosion.
Excess sweating can also lead to increased earwax production, which can affect your hearing aids. That’s one reason earwax clogs are one of the leading causes of hearing aid malfunctions.
What to Do About Sweat
- Use water-resistant accessories. Many modern hearing aids are quite durable, but it’s still good to give them an extra layer of protection, especially against moisture. Consider using hearing aid sleeves to keep sweat out, and wear items like sweatbands to catch sweat from your temples before it reaches your devices.
- Dry them every day. Using a dehumidifier or a hearing aid dryer every night will remove moisture buildup from the day.
- Take steps to decrease sweat production. Stay hydrated, wear loose, lightweight clothing, avoid spicy foods and manage stress to decrease the amount of sweat your body produces. Mind the hot weather and stay indoors (if possible) on particularly hot days. Workout earlier or later, but avoid exercise during the hottest part of the day. All of these will decrease the amount of sweat you produce.
Also, chat with us about other options. We can walk you through waterproof hearing aid models, and we can help you with regular device cleaning and maintenance to stay ahead of moisture damage and earwax buildup. Call Gulf Coast Audiology today to schedule a service appointment if you’ve been experiencing hearing aid issues.