Just because you are wearing hearing aids dose not mean that you can’t live an active lifestyle. Today’s hearing aids aren’t the bulky hearing aids you may have seen your grandparents wear! A well-fitted set of modern hearing aids will ensure that you can continue to enjoy an active life on the go. It is mostly important to understand what kind of activities you expect to be engaging with regularly when you are on the hunt for the best hearing aid for you life style.

Life on the go

Whether it is tennis, golf, basketball or wrestling there is room for hearing aids in all your favorite activities! Maybe you like to sail, or participate in water sports? Maybe it is just long hikes in the wilderness. If so, your ability to hear is often an integral part of these activities. Even just going to the gym to do a little cardio and throw some weights around is more often than not a social activity, so it would be nice to be able to hear well. The goal is to not only hear well but to be able to hear well while doing the things you love!

Water-resistant vs. water proof

Most physical activity inevitably involves differing levels of sweat and moisture. They also include varying levels of movement from the sedate to the frenetic. While many people use these terms interchangeably, water proof and water resistant mean very different things. Accidentally mistaking –resistant for –proof could mean a visit to the audiologist much sooner than anticipated. there are no actual waterproof hearing aids on the market, only different ratings of water resistance which makes activities like swimming and showering a good to take your hearing aids out and put them in a secure place.Water-resistant refers to an item made to create a hindrance against penetration by water. With regards to hearing aids, this means that they have some sort of protective coating or sealant that protects them against casual contact with moisture, at least for short amounts of time. However, it does not mean that their delicate inner workings won’t eventually be damaged by moisture due to long-term exposure to humidity or dampness without being dried out regularly with a dehumidifier.

IP ratings and what they mean

Each hearing aid receives a two-digit IP, or Ingress Protection, rating. The first digit rates the degree of protection against debris, such as dust or sand, and is rated on a scale of 1-7. The second digit, rated on a scale from 1-9, indicates how resistant the electrical device is to moisture. A hearing aid with an IP 67 rating means it is highly protected against solid objects such as sand or dust and has been tested to work for at least 30 minutes in water less than three feet deep.

Wind, dust and sweat

Again, anyone who exercises outside, or works outside, like construction, landscaping etc has particular needs. Outside can be rainy, it can be dusty and it can be windy. None of these things are the hearing aid wearer's friend. Rain is handled well by IP68 rated devices, however, just because they are IP68 does not mean they will handle wind well.

Wind issues

Wind can be really irritating for hearing aid users, as it blows across the microphones it causes cavitation, which can sound really loud in the ear. Runners, walkers or cyclists may find themselves always struggling with wind in their hearing aids causing uncomfortable noise. Some hearing aids now have wind-noise management that reduces the effect of the breeze on the device's microphone. At the same time, some aids will have a feature that enables the device to log data that helps it "learn" things like volume control based on your environment. This is ideal for someone who spends a lot of time outside where conditions are not controlled.

Glendora Hearing Aids

If your hearing aids are no longer working for you and your lifestyle, make an appointment with us today at Glendora Hearing Aids. We can help you reach your lifestyle goals with your hearing aids so you can enjoy everyday to it’s fullest.