Tag Archives: Hearing Specialist

Can Cold Weather Affect Hearing Aids?

Can Cold Weather Affect Hearing Aids?

When you’re looking for hearing aids or a hearing aid test, we at Platinum Hearing Aids are here to assist you. As your trusted Detroit hearing aid specialists, it’s our aim to provide comprehensive audiology care. Not only will we provide you with quality products, but we’ll give you all the support you need to ensure that your hearing remains at its highest level possible. To accomplish this, though, you’ll need to always take care of your aids and prevent them from being damaged. Unfortunately, now that we’re approaching the winter season, this can be trickier due to the cold weather.

Man holding a hearing aid in his hand

The Effect of Cold Weather on Hearing Aids

If you wear a hearing aid or you’re considering one, you may be disappointed to hear that the cold weather can affect them. It’s not necessarily that the cold temperature itself that will damage it, but the condensation that occurs due to changes in temperature that can set into a hearing aid and harm it. It doesn’t even need to be snowing or raining for this to occur because moisture is present when there are extreme temperature changes. For example, you may be walking around outside in the freezing cold weather, but when you get back indoors, it could be 50-to-60 degrees warmer inside, which can form condensation on your hearing aids.

Signs That Your Hearing Aid May Have Been Damaged

Moisture can cause damage to your hearing aids by ruining the microphone and receiver and can also clog up the earmold tubing and sound. You’ll be able to notice that your aids have been damaged by spotting the following signs:

  • The sound will either fade out or it will come and go.
  • The hearing aid will cut out when there are loud noises.
  • Sounds are often unclear.
  • Static is commonly present when hearing anything.

Preventing Your Hearing Aids From Being Damaged

Moisture may be hard to avoid when it’s very cold out, but there are still some precautions that you can take to help keep your hearing aids in good working shape:

  • You may want to purchase a dehumidifier or a hearing aid drying kit. You can remove the batteries and keep your hearing aid inside it every night.
  • If it’s raining, use an umbrella. Also, make sure that your ears are covered when it’s snowing out.
  • If your hearing aid gets wet at all, take the battery out immediately.
  • You can purchase sweatbands or spandex covers to help keep them free of moisture.

Contact Your Detroit Hearing Aid Specialists!

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll be glad to help in any way that we can. If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment with your Southfield and Allen Park audiologist for hearing aids or a hearing aid test, we encourage you to fill out our appointment request form or give us a call at (313) 381-4810. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Making the Most of Your Hearing Aid

If your Detroit audiologist has provided you with a new hearing aid, it’s important that you become familiar with your device and take good care of it so it provides you with many years of service.

The doctors and staff at Platinum Hearing Aids are audiology professionals who provide Southfield, Allen Park, Dearborn, and the greater Detroit area with hearing aids to patients of all ages. We want all of our patients who wear hearing aids to get the most out of their devices so they can enjoy hearing the world as it was meant to be heard, so we have provided you with some helpful tips that can help you make the most of your hearing aid.

Get to Know The Features

Today’s hearing aids are loaded with features that can make your life easier if you learn how to use them. Ask your Detroit audiologists to show you the features on your particular model and how to use them. For example, you may have a wind block management feature that can reduce wind noise or a telecoil that can be used with both cellular phones and landlines. Take the time to read the instructions that came with your hearing aid so you can learn how the device works and understand all the features of your particular model.

Keep Your Hearing Aid Clean and Take Good Care of It

Because your device works tirelessly to help you hear all day long, it’s important to take good care of your aid and clean it regularly. Before you put your hearing aid away for the day, wipe it gently with a dry cloth to rid it of oils and moisture that it may have accumulated during the day.

Never use harsh chemicals to clean your aid as they can damage the components of your device. Also, do not lay your hearing aid near a heat source when putting it away for the night, as doing so can ruin its electronic components.

Coping with a World Full of Noises

Your hearing aid may re-introduce you to many sounds you’ve forgotten, like the sound of birds chirping or the ticking of a clock. With time, you’ll learn how to focus on what you wish to hear and how to tune out the rest. When visiting public places that are full of noises, like restaurants and theaters, try to sit in a location that offers the best listening conditions. For example, try to sit away from the kitchen, restrooms, and doorways in restaurants.

Questions? Contact An Audiologist

The audiologists at Platinum Hearing Aids are committed to providing people in the Detroit areas with the latest digital hearing aid technology. If you would like to find out more about the digital hearing aids we offer, please contact us, as we’re always happy to speak with you!