The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that, “About 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids.” If you’re among this population and you’ve already purchased a hearing aid, you may be concerned about contact with moisture. Follow our steps below if your hearing aid accidentally gets wet, whether you’re at home or taking a walk at Mesa Lane Beach in Santa Barbara.
Don’t Panic
While this may seem like a panic-inducing situation due to the fact moisture can damage your hearing aid, know that if you act quickly, it should be safe.
Act Quickly
Whatever the source of water your hearing aid came in contact with, whether a puddle or the ocean, remove it from the water immediately. Similarly, if you’re getting sprayed by a sprinkler or hose, move away from the source as quickly as possible.
Turn It Off
Once you’ve removed your hearing aid from the source of moisture, turn it off.
Assess the Damage
The next step depends on what type of water your hearing aid was exposed to. If it was salty or dirty water, briefly rinse the hearing aid in fresh water before proceeding. If it was freshwater, proceed to the next step.
Open the Battery Door
Doing so will allow water to drain out from inside the device.
Shake the Hearing Aid
Shaking your hearing aid with the battery door open can help propel more water out of the inside.
Dry Everything with a Cloth
Dry the hearing aid, including inside the battery compartment, as well as the battery itself, with a soft, dry, clean cloth after shaking it out.
Put It in a Dehumidifier
You should own a dehumidifier, and you should pack it with you on trips in case of an incident like this. Dehumidifiers are containers with a desiccant inside that draws moisture out of hearing aids.
Keep your hearing aid in the dehumidifier at least overnight.
Try Your Hearing Aids
After your hearing aid has been in the dehumidifier overnight, put the battery back in, turn it on and try it out.
Contact Your Audiologist
If the sound coming from your hearing aid is distorted or it won’t turn on at all, contact your Audiologist. They can let you know if your hearing aid can be repaired or if it’s under warranty.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, call Hearing Services of Santa Barbara today.