As a swimmer, you love going in the water. When you were younger, everyone said you were part fish because you liked to swim so much the pool was your second home. Today, the water sounds a little… louder… than usual. And then you recognize your oversight: you went in the pool with your hearing aid in. And you don’t know if it’s waterproof or not.
In most scenarios, you’re right to be a little worried. Hearing aids are frequently constructed with some amount of water resistance in mind. But being resistant to water isn’t the same as actually being waterproof.
Water resistance ratings and hearing aids
In general speaking, your hearing aids are going to function best when they are kept clean and dry. But for the majority of hearing aids, it won’t be a big deal if you get a little water on them. It all depends on something known as an IP rating–that’s the officially allocated water resistance number.
Here’s how the IP rating works: every hearing aid is given a two-digit number. The device’s resistance to dust, sand, and other forms of dry erosion is delineated by the first number.
The second digit (and the one we’re really considering here) signifies how resistant your hearing aid is to water. The greater the number, the longer the device will last under water. So if a device has a rating of IP87 it will have very good resistance to dry erosion and will be okay under water for about a half hour.
Although there aren’t any hearing aids currently available that are completely waterproof, there are some that can have a high water resistance rating.
Is water resistance worthwhile?
The intricate electronics inside your hearing aid case won’t mesh well with water. Before you go swimming or into the shower you will definitely want to take out your hearing aid and depending on the IP rating, avoid using them in overly humid weather. No level of water resistance will help if you drop your hearing aids in the deep end of the pool, but there are some scenarios where a high IP rating will definitely be advantageous:
- If the climate where you live is rainy or excessively humid
- If you perspire significantly, whether at rest or when exercising (sweat, after all, is a form of water)
- There have been times when you’ve forgotten to take your hearing aid out before going into the rain or shower
- You have a proclivity for water sports (such as boating or fishing); the spray from the boat might call for high IP rated hearing aids
This is surely not a complete list. Naturally, what degree of water resistance will be sufficient for your daily routine will only be able to be determined after a consultation.
You have to take care of your hearing aids
Your hearing aid is not maintenance-free just because it’s water resistant. Between sweat-filled runs, it will be in your best interest to ensure that you clean your hearing aids and keep them dry.
In some instances, that could mean purchasing a dehumidifier. But in most cases, a nice dry storage place will work fine (depending on where you live). And it will be necessary to thoroughly clean and remove any residue left behind by some moistures including sweat.
If your hearing aids get wet, what can you do?
If there’s no such thing as a waterproof hearing aid, should you panic when your devices get wet? Well, no–mostly because panicking won’t help anything anyway. But you need to give your hearing aids sufficient time to dry out entirely and if they have a low IP rating, we can help you determine if there is any damage.
The IP rating on your hearing aid will give you an idea of what you can expect when it comes to possible water damage. At least, try to remember to take your hearing aids out before you go swimming. It’s best to keep your hearing aids as dry as you can.