Winter, while beautiful, can bring about its own set of challenges. The cold and the wintery weather can be difficult for many, both young and old. However, for those who wear hearing aids, the winter season can harm a person’s device if the proper precautions are not followed, especially if they don’t know how to care for their hearing aids in the winter properly. Wearing hearing aids in winter is often a necessity (you do need to hear after all!), but the cold and wintery conditions have the potential to damage this sensitive device.

Wearing hearing aids in winter can pose a challenge, but it is possible if you take the precautions needed and follow these helpful tips!

• Keeping your ears warm when you go outside is important, and even more so when you wear hearing aids. While wearing hearing aids during the winter, keep them covered by wearing a hat, headband, or earmuffs. This can help protect the device from condensation damage and keep your hearing aid protected from sweat and the elements.

• Be mindful of what you wear if you wear your hearing aid outside. Wear a sweatband or hat that can help wick away perspiration and keep out dust and dirt. Hearing aid sweatbands are available for those who wear behind-the-ear hearing aids to help absorb moisture. Otherwise, make sure you wear a hat that is made with a breathable material capable of absorbing excess moisture.

• To help ensure your hearing aid has the juice it needs to perform, always have spare batteries on hand and never leave the house without at least one extra set. The cold can drain a battery faster than normal, so it’s important always to be equipped, especially if you plan to be away from the house for an extended period. It’s best always to be prepared!

• If you often participate in winter sports or love taking the snowmobile out after a heavy snowfall, you might want to leave the hearing aid at home in a dry, safe place. Excessive moisture from sweat and precipitation can damage hearing aids. Of course, you can only do so if you don’t heavily rely on your hearing aid. You do not want to put yourself in danger because you cannot hear anything without your hearing aid.

• When you are done using your device, place it in a safe place, and keep the battery door open to allow for any condensation buildup to evaporate. If moisture is detected, using a cotton swab to wipe around the battery compartment will absorb the excess moisture. Also, using a hearing aid dehumidifier can help extend the life of hearing aids by successfully removing moisture build-up, making it a solid investment if you want to help preserve your device’s lifespan.