Look after your hearing this Winter and Spring
Cold, wet weather can have a detrimental effect on your hearing and on the performance of your hearing aids too. So here are some simple steps you can take, to look after your hearing this Winter and as we go into Spring and look forward to brighter, sunnier days.
1. Keep your ears warm and dry.
Extended or repeated exposure to cold weather can damage your ears so always wear a hat or earmuffs.
2. Wind and cold can cause your ears to produce excess wax.
Don’t be tempted to try and clean your ears by inserting cotton buds into your ear canals, which can impact wax, pushing it deeper and making the condition worse. Use a soft damp cloth or see your hearing care specialist for micro suction wax removal.
3. Protect your ears against swimmer’s ear.
An infection in your ear canal caused by bacteria. Whilst it mostly occurs due to water-related activities, exposure to cold weather can be contributory.
4. Cold temperatures can shorten your hearing aids’ battery life.
Very cold temperatures can also allow moisture to build up in your hearing aids. Keep them warm by wearing a hat and buy a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture.
5. Ear infections are common in colder months.
Look out for early signs of infection, like ear pain, redness, discharge or any change in your hearing loss. And see your GP or Audiologist if you have any concerns.
6. Eat a healthy diet and exercise.
Eating a healthy diet and doing regular exercise improves blood circulation and helps minimise the risk of ear infections.
7. Keep your hearing aids away from direct heat.
Never place your hearing aids on a direct heat source to warm them and don’t use a hairdryer to dry them off. Simply wipe them off and open the battery doors to help them dry naturally.
8. Take care in icy winter conditions.
Because of the link between your hearing and your balance, take extra care when walking outside in icy winter conditions and wear shoes with good grip.
9. Keep batteries in a dry place.
Extreme changes in temperature can shorten the life of your hearing aid batteries, so keep them in a dry place with a consistent temperature, not for example, in your car. And keep spare batteries on hand.
10. Protect your hearing aids from rain and snow.
Most hearing aids are water resistant but not waterproof, so keep them dry, use an umbrella in the snow or rain, but go ahead and make that snowman!
If you have any concerns about your hearing health, ask your GP or book a FREE hearing health check with your local Audiologist.
if ages 50+