Summer Fun and Hearing Aids: Protect Your Ears This Season

Summer. It’s a time of sun, sea, sand, and…hearing loss?

Whether you’re heading away on vacation or are sticking close to home, it’s unfortunately not unusual for hearing health to take a hit during spring and summer. To some extent, this is because heat and humidity can increase the risks of everything from ear infections to excessive earwax production. But it isn’t just the summer weather itself that we need to be wary of.

Keep on reading to find out about the summer hearing risks you possibly didn’t know, and the best steps you can take to tackle them.

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# 1 – Turning up the Volume

Noise levels typically rise during the summer months. From more birdsong (an admittedly negligible addition), to blaring music and even just the noise of endless lawn mowers, there’s sure to be a whole lot of high-decibels all around. And you should never underestimate the impact that can have on your hearing.

The most obvious example of this comes from music festivals, when consistent exposure to loud noises can result in either temporary or permanent hearing loss. Even mowing your lawn could lead to lasting problems. That’s why ear defenders or earplugs should be a key part of your summer wardrobe, right along with your sun hats and shades. That way, you’re way less likely to experience problems by the end of the season!

# 2 – Making a Splash

From outdoor pools and splash pads to sea swimming, we all love to get in the water when the sun is shining. But this is another thing that could leave your hearing at risk. Swimming that sees water seeping into our ears leaves us at a significantly higher risk of infections like the aptly named ‘swimmer’s ear’. And, ongoing infections all summer long are not only painful and inconvenient, but could also open the door to longer-lasting hearing issues.

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Luckily, this problem needn’t stop you from enjoying the water altogether, but you will want to take steps to keep your ears as dry as possible. Stocking up on additions to your swimming kit, such as swim caps and approved earplugs, is the best way to achieve that goal even underwater!

# 3 – Humidity and Hearing Aids

Existing hearing aid wearers might consider themselves safe from summer’s trials, but it’s vital to also be aware of how spring weather affects hearing aids. That’s because, as soon as the weather starts to get warmer, hearing aids are at risk of everything from humidity damage to pollen exposure. Not to mention that your ears may well experience allergy-induced inflammation. And all of this can ultimately impact hearing aid functionality.

That’s a problem that could ultimately do a fair amount of damage, but it’s something you can work to overcome with more regular cleaning, proper storage practices, and professional guidance if you feel like you need it.

Summer might be the season of love, but your hearing probably won’t love the heat unless you take steps to avoid these risk factors.