During the summer months, the longing for a cool dip is almost as intense as the temperatures! It won’t be long before the outdoor pool season starts again, and all swimming enthusiasts are looking forward to the sun—and especially to swimming, doing the crawl, and splashing around. What many people don’t know is that you can enjoy that refreshing dip in the cool water even with a hearing aid!

Although hearing aids are highly sophisticated devices, they don’t mean you have to miss out on the fun of swimming.

Thanks to years of intensive research, hearing aid technology has continued to advance. Today, hearing aids not only provide the best possible sound quality for users, but are also becoming smaller and more discreet. As a result, it’s easy to forget you’re wearing this small device in your ear, which can have damaging consequences for the electronics.

Before jumping into the water, it’s essential to keep the following in mind:

While more and more modern hearing aids are splash-proof, too much moisture is still not a good idea. Hearing aids have functional openings on the microphone, receiver, and battery compartment through which water can enter and damage the electronics. For this reason, it’s recommended that you remove your hearing aid before swimming and store it safely.

Knowing how to store them properly is just as important. Hearing aids should ideally be stored in a suitable container or case. In fact, not only can water damage a hearing aid, but exposure to extreme heat and high humidity should also be avoided. This means that hearing aids should not be left in direct sunlight or on wet towels. You should pay particular attention to storing your hearing aid properly, especially during the summer months.

For many people, a lake or outdoor pool is a place where they can have fun and relax in the sun. For those who don’t want to worry about their hearing aid while enjoying water activities, there’s also the option of a waterproof hearing aid. These are equipped with a special coating and a membrane over the openings. The membrane acts as a barrier that keeps water out while still allowing sound waves to pass through and be transmitted effectively. Even diving enthusiasts can dive with peace of mind: waterproof hearing aids can withstand depths of up to several meters. As part of aftercare, however, the hearing aid should be placed in a drying box overnight so that any remaining moisture can evaporate.

If none of these measures have worked and the hearing aid has ended up in water after all, your hearing care professional can help you on-site. There, they can assess whether the device has been damaged and the extent of the damage. While the device is being repaired, some hearing care professionals offer a loaner device so you don’t have to go without good hearing during the beautiful summer months.