Can I Wear Hearing Aids at the Beach or Pool? Best Practices

Summer around Siouxland means finding a way to spend some time near the water. Some people take a day trip to one of the lakes just across the state line.

Others spend afternoons at Siouxland Splash Waterpark while the kids burn off energy. Plenty of us settle for a sprinkler and lawn chair when the humidity rolls in off the river.

For hearing aid wearers, all those plans bring up the same question. Do they come along, and what do you do with them once the water starts flying?

It’s a practical question because leaving your hearing aids behind changes what you hear throughout the day. Conversations, lifeguard whistles and calls from across the pool may be harder to catch without them.

Wearing them near the water brings a different concern since one splash or a wet towel may be enough to cause trouble. Knowing what your specific devices can tolerate helps you decide when to wear them, when to take them out and where to keep them when you do.

Why Water and Moisture Can Cause Problems for Hearing Aids

A hearing aid works because tiny electrical parts stay separated and send current along specific paths. Water can damage those key paths.

Once it reaches the electronics, current may travel where it wasn’t intended to go, which can interrupt the way the device works. Sweat adds salt to the mix, and that salt can remain behind after everything feels dry.

Damage can also develop after the water is gone. Metal parts exposed to moisture may slowly corrode, affecting connections that were working normally at first.

A quick splash and full submersion aren’t equal either. Where the water reaches and how long it remains inside play a large part in what happens next.

How Sand and Debris May Affect Performance

Sand causes a different kind of trouble because it can work its way into openings and moving parts. Fine grains may collect around microphone ports or receiver openings and interfere with how those areas function.

Sand near a battery door can also keep it from closing correctly. Grit may scratch the casing when it gets rubbed across the surface instead of brushed away carefully.

Beach towels, bags and pockets are common places for debris to transfer onto the devices without you noticing. Problems can start when you press a button with grit caught around its edge.

Closing a battery door against a grain of sand may cause trouble too. A soft brush or dry cloth is usually safer than trying to dig anything out.

If particles reach an opening you can’t clean easily, an audiologist can remove them without risking the parts underneath.

Understanding IP Ratings for Hearing Aids Used at the Beach or Pool

The letters and numbers in an IP rating are easy to mistake for a simple waterproof label. They’re the result of specific lab tests. In a rating like IP68, the six describes how well the casing keeps out dust.

The eight comes from a separate water test performed under set conditions. Neither number promises that you can swim while wearing the device.

The details behind the rating are more useful than the rating alone. A manufacturer may specify how deep the device was submerged and how long the test lasted.

Those limits become especially important around a pool or beach, where a quick splash is very different from spending half an hour underwater. Check the instructions for your model before deciding what kind of water contact it can handle.

Water Resistance Levels in Different Types of Hearing Aids

Water resistance varies by model and design, so two hearing aids may not handle the same amount of contact with water. Before wearing yours near a pool or beach, it helps to know where it falls:

• • Behind-the-ear models: Many have water-resistant casings, but the level of protection depends on the specific model.
  • Receiver-in-canal models: The main casing may resist moisture, while the receiver sits inside the ear and has its own exposure concerns.
  • In-the-ear models: The entire device sits in the ear, so sweat and splashes can reach the casing directly.
  • Rechargeable models: Sealed battery compartments remove the opening used for disposable batteries, although water can still reach other parts.
  • Disposable-battery models: Battery doors create an additional opening, making the model’s stated water-resistance rating especially important.
  • Water-resistant specialty models: Some are built for heavier contact with water, but their stated limits still need to be followed.

Important Precautions Before Visiting the Beach or Pool with Hearing Aids

Keep a hard case in your bag so they have a dry, protected place to go instead of ending up loose on a towel. If you use rechargeable models, make sure they have enough power before you head out so you aren’t trying to charge them somewhere damp.

Beach and pool days also involve a lot of quick transitions. You may be dry one minute and dealing with wet hands, sunscreen or splashing the next.

Take the devices out before applying products around your ears, and handle them only after your hands are completely dry. At the beach, keep the case zipped inside your bag rather than leaving it exposed where sand can work its way in.

Using Covers or Sleeves to Add Extra Protection for Your Devices

Covers and sleeves add a physical layer between your devices and the things that tend to show up around the water.

They can catch sweat or an unexpected splash before it reaches the casing, and some materials also help keep sunscreen from transferring onto the surface.

A sleeve can be especially handy when you’re staying out of the water but still spending hours near the pool or beach. Fit matters, since the cover shouldn’t block the microphones or interfere with buttons and controls.

It also needs to come off once it gets damp. Leaving a wet cover in place can hold moisture against the casing instead of keeping it away.

What to Do If Your Hearing Aids Get Wet at the Beach or Pool

If your hearing aids get wet, take them out and turn them off. Gently dry the outside with a clean cloth. If your model uses disposable batteries, remove them and leave the battery doors open.

Don’t test the devices immediately, even when the casing already feels dry. Water can remain inside long after the surface looks fine.

A hearing aid dehumidifier or drying container can help remove what you can’t reach. Pool and saltwater need extra care because both can leave residue behind.

After full submersion or a heavy soaking, have a professional audiologist inspect the devices before wearing them again.

Warning Signs That Your Hearing Aids May Need Professional Care After Getting Wet

Getting the water out doesn’t always mean everything inside is working normally again. Once the devices have dried, watch for problems that weren’t there before:

• • They shut off unexpectedly: Random restarts or shutdowns after getting wet are worth having checked.
  • The sound isn’t back to normal: Voices or sounds may seem faint, uneven or distorted.
  • You hear crackling: Persistent static after a full drying cycle can indicate water reached an internal component.
  • Buttons aren’t working correctly: A control that sticks or responds inconsistently shouldn’t be forced.
  • They won’t stay charged: Rechargeable models may lose power sooner or fail to charge completely.
  • There’s residue around an opening: Dried salt or pool chemicals can remain behind after the water is gone.
  • Problems return later: A device that works at first but acts up again may still need professional attention.

Planning Outdoor Activities with Backup Batteries and Extra Supplies

Rechargeable models need a different backup plan, like starting with a full charge or bringing a compatible portable charger when you’ll be away for hours.

It can also help to carry spare domes, wax filters or a cleaning cloth if you already use those items at home. Keep everything together in one pouch, so you’re not digging through a beach bag or backpack when something needs attention.

Enjoying the Beach or Pool Safely with Your Hearing Aids

A little planning can make it easier to manage your hearing aids around the water. Check what they are rated to handle and pack a dry case in your bag.

Choose a shaded place to keep them whenever you take them out.

It happens during ordinary moments, like leaving a pair on a wet towel or forgetting to remove them before getting in the water.

Having a usual place for them can prevent many of those situations. You may not know exactly how much water or humidity your hearing aids can handle.

At Siouxland Hearing Healthcare, P.L.C., in Sioux City, Iowa, we can review your hearing aids and explain what their water-resistance rating means for everyday use. Call us at (712) 266-3662 before your next day near the water.