No matter how old you are, exercise has benefits for your body and mind. Regular exercise helps lower blood pressure, improve muscle and joint function, and even helps your mental and emotional state. However, when you wear hearing aids it’s natural to wonder if exercising while wearing them is a good idea or whether it could cause unexpected damage.
Fortunately there are ways to keep your hearing aids safe from harm while you exercise. If you want to learn about protecting your hearing aids while exercising, keep reading for our tips and advice.
Protecting Your Hearing Aids
When you wear your hearing aids during exercise, it’s best to take a few extra steps to keep them safe:
Wear A Sweatband or Hearing Aid Sweat Covers
If you tend to perspire when exercising, your priority should be keeping sweat off your hearing aids. Moisture can easily damage most hearing aids and can also cause other problems, such as reduced clarity and increased bacterial growth. However, by wearing a sweatband or covering your hearing aids with dedicated sweat covers, you can keep moisture out of your devices.
Secure Your Aids to Your Body
Another common problem when exercising is keeping your hearing aids in place. If you participate in active exercises like aerobics, running, or sports, you may have trouble with your hearing aids staying put. Depending on the type of hearing aid you use, there are multiple solutions to this problem. For instance, Behind-the-Ear hearing aid users can use close-fitting caps or headbands to keep their aids in place, or even apply double-sided toupee tape to secure their devices directly. You can also invest in a hearing aid clip or lanyard that will prevent your hearing aids from getting lost should they fall out.
Dry Your Hearing Aids After Use
While it’s always good practice to place your hearing aids in a drying box after wearing them, it’s especially important when you exercise. The increased sweat can easily penetrate into your hearing aids’ smaller holes and openings, which can lead to a host of problems. A dehumidifier or drying box can remove this moisture and keep your hearing aids working well for years.
Inspect Your Hearing Aids Regularly
One of the best ways to protect your hearing aids is simply to observe them for signs of damage. If your hearing aid has unusual buildup, signs of wear, discoloration, or simply isn’t functioning like it should, it could be time to get it looked at. Don’t be afraid to bring your hearing aid to your audiologist to make sure it’s in good condition.
Why You Should Wear Your Hearing Aids when Exercising
Of course, you might think there’s an easy solution to keeping your hearing aids safe while exercising: leave them behind. However, hearing aids can improve your exercise experience in many ways. For most people, it’s always a good idea to wear hearing aids when exercising. Here’s why:
Safety and Awareness
The chief reason to wear hearing aids when exercising is the same as any other time: it keeps you safer and more aware of your surroundings. Whether you’re running at the gym, hiking your favorite trail or playing a round of golf, your ears play an important role. You need to make sure you can hear announcements, warnings, and nearby people and sounds to stay safe.
Better Communication
Hearing aids also improve your communication ability. If you’re exercising or playing with a partner or on a team, your hearing aids make you a better companion and teammate. They also improve your experience and make you more connected to your surroundings.
Simple Connectivity
Along with helping you hear and stay safe, many modern hearing aids also double as Bluetooth headsets and headphones for listening to music, taking calls and hearing alerts from your phone. This allows you to stay in touch while you’re exercising and allows you to enjoy your music, audiobooks or podcasts no matter what you’re doing.
If you want to learn more about getting the most out of your hearing aids, contact us today at the Oklahoma Hearing Center in Oklahoma City. Our experienced audiologists are ready to help you regain your hearing ability and experience life to the fullest. Call 405-546-4280 today to learn more or visit our Facebook page for helpful hearing tips, news and advice.