Regardless of age, getting help for hearing loss is essential to maintaining your physical and mental health. Hearing aids provide the best solution to the cognitive decline, social isolation, and strained relationships associated with hearing loss. 

Just because you need to wear hearing aids, it doesn’t mean that you have to slow down your active lifestyle. There’s no need for our Northern Illinois patients to sit at home worried that they’ll lose or damage their hearing aids. 

There are plenty of options available for active lifestyles and those who take part in sports.

Why You Should Use Your Hearing Aids During Sports or Workouts

Whether you take part in a team sport, work out with a partner or go it alone, your hearing aids are an integral piece of equipment. The benefits of using your hearing aids during sports and activities to improve performance and safety include:

  • The ability to hear instructions
  • Better communications with teammates or partners
  • Warning signals and maintaining safety
  • Improved balance and spatial awareness

Protecting and Maintaining Your Hearing Aids Is Essential

You can remain active and enjoy sports while wearing your hearing aids as long as you understand how to protect them from damage or loss and maintain them. Some essential tips for protecting and maintaining your hearing aids while you participate in sports or workouts include:

  • Loss or Damage Protection. Those who participate in sports that require a helmet should consider wearing two skull-caps; one to absorb sweat, while the other holds the hearing aids in place. In addition, hearing aid clips are available to prevent them from becoming dislodged regardless of activity type.
  • Protection Against Moisture. Because moisture is the worst enemy of your hearing aids, you should use a headband designed to absorb moisture and keep it away from your device. A puffer or bulb blower can be used during breaks in the action to help blow moisture out of the device. Investing in a hearing aid dehumidifier for use after activity is a great way to deal with moisture.
  • Keep them Clean. Daily cleaning and inspection is an essential part of maintaining ALL hearing aids, but it becomes doubly important when you are more active. Use the right types of anti-microbial wipes, as recommended by the manufacturer, to help keep them sanitary.
  • Have a Full Charge or Extra Batteries. Keep in mind that moisture from sweat degrades batteries more rapidly. Being prepared will help you avoid your hearing aids shutting down in the heat of the action.

Choosing a Hearing Aid for Active Lifestyles

Communication with your audiologist regarding your lifestyle and the activities you participate in is an essential part of choosing the right hearing aid. 

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In-the-ear (ITE) and in-the-canal (ITC) style hearing aids usually work best for active wearers with mild to severe hearing loss because they don’t usually interfere with other equipment and tend to stay in place during most activities. 

However, those with more progressive hearing loss might need a behind-the-ear (BTE) or receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) style hearing instrument – Waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof models of these and available for all types of devices. Many also come with the capacity to handle wind noise.

Fox Valley ENT Supports Active Lifestyles for Hearing Aid Wearers

Wearing hearing aids doesn’t mean that you need to stop enjoying sports and an active lifestyle. Using the proper precautions and the right style of hearing aids, you can continue enjoying the active and rewarding lifestyle you love. 

Fox Valley ENT supports active lifestyles for hearing aid wearers, and we have the experience and expertise to help you choose the right device as well as help you get the most out of it. 

If you or a loved one wants to discuss hearing aid options or discuss any questions about how we can help, contact us. – Call the Algonquin, Elgin, Huntley, or St. Charles Fox Valley Ear, Nose & Throat Associates location nearest you.

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Brittany Hampsch, AuD

Brittany earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois Champaign in 2004 and her doctorate from Northwestern in 2014. She is fluent in American Sign Language and worked as an interpreter before becoming an audiologist. Brittany is passionate about communication and helping those in need in any way she can. Her kindness and helpfulness earn her regular praises from Fox Valley ENT patients who are so grateful that she has joined our team. In her spare time, Brittany is an avid scuba diver, enjoys camping and cooking, and tends to a large saltwater aquarium in her home with her husband and two sons.