- A Closer Look at Common Myths About Hearing Loss - May 7, 2024
- The Impact of Pets on Emotional and Hearing Health - April 26, 2024
- Strategies for Coping with Single-Sided Deafness - April 16, 2024
Even though hearing aids are sturdy, tough, and meant to be worn for long periods of time, they are in fact complex machines with lots of components that have to work together in delicate harmony. When you keep an active lifestyle, your hearing aids are introduced to a lot of different types of working conditions and it is your job to ensure that your hearing aids are kept clean, dry, and safe from damage. Below, you can learn about great hearing aids that are made for people with active lifestyles, and get tips on maintaining your hearing aids as the seasons change—ensuring that you can keep your healthy, active lifestyle yearlong.
A Waterproof Hearing Aid
Siemens has been in the hearing aid business for many decades. They created Aquaris, a fully dust proof and waterproof behind-the-ear hearing aid—the world’s first, in fact—and the device as an IP rating of 68. (On the IP scale, the first digit is rated on a scale of 1-7, and measures the degree of protection against debris like dust and sand. The second digit is rated on a scale from 1-9 and measures the degree of resistance to moisture.) With an Aquaris hearing aid, users will be able to shower, swim, and exercise without concern. It is also a shockproof hearing aid, meaning that it won’t short out or be interrupted if it is exposed to movements such as running or impact sports such as football. Siemens is a high quality hearing aid company and the Aquaris is no exception. It is loaded with features, including speech recognition and directional microphones. It has wind-noise reduction and Bluetooth connectivity.
Wireless Connectivity
If you are looking for a great range of connectivity options, you might want to consider the Starkey Hearing Technologies hearing aid, the Halo iQ – the latest iteration from the Halo family, which was awarded the Silver Edison Award in April 2015. The Halo iQ has wireless connectivity and is one of the world’s first hearing aid devices made for iPhones. Using Starkey’s TruLink App, users can connect to iPhones and Apple devices such as the iPod touch, Apple Watch, and iPad. Halo iQ can access your iPhone’s GPS, and will create an archive of your preferences in a given location so that you can automatically switch to your preferred program when you return. Starkey is leading the way in creating devices that make it easier to hear in complex noise environments, and the Halo iQ is able to access your iPhone’s microphone to amplify sounds that you want to hear.
ReSound has also created a hearing aid line that is compatible with iPhones: the LiNX2. Using ReSound’s SureFit features, you can personalize your hearing aid for maximum comfort. Like the Halo 2, you can wirelessly connect to other devices and it is not only capable of connecting to your GPS, but it will archive geo-tagged locations making it easier to adjust your presets when you return to them.
Caring for Your Hearing Aids
No matter the advances in hearing aid technologies, it is always important to be conscious of the environments you are using your devices in so that you can have the best care and maintenance plan. Weather changes can greatly affect hearing aids, no matter how well-crafted they may be.
Prolonged exposure in cold winter months can zap your hearing aid’s batteries or lead to cracked components. Moving from winter’s freezing temperatures to the hot and humid temperatures of spring and summer can create condensation in your hearing aids that can cause lasting damage.
There are a handful of things you can do if you find your hearing aid has been exposed to difficult weather conditions. You can use cotton swabs to carefully remove debris such as sand from your devices. Should it get wet, try using a hair dryer on a cool setting to dry it or placing it in a bowl of dry, uncooked rice until you can take it to a trained hearing aid professional for a proper cleaning. Always keep your hearing aids in a safe space should you remove them—keep them in a cool location in a container and in a place that you will remember. Be careful not to leave them in places that get direct sunlight! If you are wearing sunscreen or other lotions or oils, be sure to apply before you handle you hearing aids.
Visit Us at New Leaf Hearing Clinic
At New Leaf, we are here to support you on the journey to better hearing. We want to ensure that you continue to lead your rich, active life with the right pair of hearing aids. Contact us today to schedule a hearing test or hearing aid fitting.