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Dr. Lance F. Greer,
Audiologist
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Now that summer is in full swing, care and maintenance of your hearing
investment is important to assure that you maintain good hearing. Here in the
desert southwest the temperatures can reach well into the 100’s and humidity is
quite low. However due to the low humidity, there are 5 things I would
encourage you do or to watch out for.
1) Avoid placing your hearing aids in direct sunlight
particularly in a car. Windows in a car can act as a magnifying glass and with
the right glare, focused light causes extreme heat, which can literally warp
and damage sensitive computer chip components inside your hearing devices. Also
the batteries may have a greater chance to produce corrosion that can damage
battery contacts and internal electronic components.
2) Remember to remove
your hearing devices prior to taking the plunge into the a swimming pool. Failure
to do so will most likely short them out.
Several years ago, I had a patient who dove into his pool and as he hit
the water, he knew he had forgotten to take his devices off. After a 10-minute
search, both units were found and recovered from the bottom of the pool. Fortunately
in this patient’s case, his devices were still covered under his repair
warranty, so we were able to send them in for repair and had him back in good
hearing order within days. Just remember, if you do get your hearing aids wet,
open the battery door, remove the battery and even put in a small Tupperware
container with white rice. This will usually remedy the problem and they will
function within 12-24 hours. If they don’t you will need to bring them in to
our office for a more comprehensive review.
3) If you sweat a lot
in the summer heat you may need an electric dehumidifier. There is an increased
chance of perspiring behind the ears and even in the ear canals. Such
perspiration can quickly damage the internal components because of its
saltiness. Even here in the desert, perspiration and humidity, particularly
when the “monsoon” storms start, can have an effect on the performance of your
devices. If your hearing instrument works great in the morning hours but tends
to fade and get softer as the day progresses, then you may want to come in and
look at our electric dehumidifiers.
4) Sunscreen has oils in it that can
be damaging to hearing aids and even ear molds. Take extra precaution when
applying sunscreen oils or sprays before that trip to the beach or pool!
It would be best to apply these protective products and wait 15 minutes
for your body to absorb these oils prior to putting your hearing devices back
on.
5) Brush, Brush and
more brushing. Each night be sure to take a little brush or designated cleaning
brush and thoroughly brush over the microphone and speaker components of the
your hearing devices. With the wind that
is common here in our area and the dust that is created, the brushing you do
will keep the tiny dust particles out of out of the sensitive internal
components of your devices. This will
assure that you will get the maximum performance and life longevity from your
devices.
From our family here at Advanced Hearing
& Balance Specialists to you, we wish you a great and successful summer and
hope that you are able to get a way and go on a road trip or two and build some
good memories.
Advanced Hearing & Balance Specialists has been
providing audiology services for more than 40 years and specialize in adult
and pediatric care. Our five clinical
audiologists have over 64 years of experience serving the communities of St. George, Cedar City, Mesquite,
Hurricane, Beaver, Milford, Delta, Fillmore, Panguitch, and Overton, making it convenient for you to receive the highest levels
of hearing and balance care. We always put our patient’s concerns first,
matching each individual’s needs with the treatments and tools, which fit their
lifestyle. For more information go to http://www.hearingaiddoctor.com/
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