Winter walks, ice-skating, skiing – there are plenty of good reasons for venturing outdoors in the cold winter season.
Our ears are particularly sensitive and can easily suffer from the cold when the outside temperature drops. Winter conditions can also present challenges for hearing instruments as well.
Protect your ears from the cold and keep your hearing aids healthy in the coming
winter months
Hearing aid risks:
- Hearing aid battery life is significantly reduced when exposed to wintry conditions. Batteries can fail completely if the temperature drops below zero degrees celsius.
- Condensation can occur inside the hearing aid, when going from extreme chilly conditions to warm environments. These tiny beads of moisture can cause electronic failure.
Hot tips for cold ears:
- Keep ears warm during cold periods – wear a hat, headband or earmuffs or a good ski helmet. This will also help prevent the batteries from cooling down.
- Have spare batteries available. If kept in your pocket, body heat will keep them at an optimal temperature.
- Special drying containers prevent damage caused by condensation (available at your nearest clinic).
- After swimming or taking a shower, make sure your ear canals are dry before venturing outside.
- If you have an ear infection, consult your doctor. If left untreated, it could cause more damage.
- Consult your doctor immediately If you suspect that you have frostbite.
Other advice for cold ears:
- DO NOT put cotton wool in your ears to protect them from the cold wind. It may cause inflammation in the ear canal.
- NEVER put hearing instruments on a heater.
- NEVER use hot water to warm up your ears. Try massaging your ears instead.