School is out for the summer! Pool days are a great way to get your kiddo outside and active. If you’re the parent of a child with hearing aids, you don’t want your kid to miss out on summer fun, but they’ll need to take some extra precautions before getting into the pool.
Teach Them the Risks
Moisture is very bad for hearing aids. Water exposure can cause serious damage to the internal components, the battery and the microphone. Impress on your child that if their hearing aids get wet, they can get damaged. If you also wear hearing aids, make sure you model this cautious behavior, and your child will emulate you.
Store Devices Safely
Once your child understands that they can’t wear their hearing aids into the pool, make plans for how they will be stored. Do not leave them lying out in exposed sunlight or in a hot car, as extreme heat can also cause problems. Instead, equip your child with a hearing aid case and store it somewhere shady and safe, such as a locker or a pool bag in a shady spot.
Dry Ears
When it’s time to get out of the pool, have your child wait until their ears are dry before reinserting their hearing aids. Water can get trapped in the ear canal, and if hearing aids are put back in before that water escapes, it can either enter the hearing aid and cause damage or fester in your child’s ear and develop into an ear infection.
Dry Devices When They Get Home
Finally, after a day at the pool, use a hearing aid dryer or dry kit once your child is back indoors. Even if you and your child are certain the devices didn’t get any water on them during the outing, this can still remove any moisture that may have gotten in, either from an errant splash or just general humidity.
Talk to Their Audiologist
If there are any signs of water damage after a long day at the pool, bring your child’s devices to us for a service appointment. Signs to look for include:
- Distorted sound quality; your child might say that things “sound funny”
- Shortened battery life
- Powering off suddenly
- Whistling or feedback
We at Audiology Associates of Redding want you and your child to have a fun-filled summer. Hearing aids shouldn’t slow your kid down. Call us if you have any questions about summertime pediatric hearing aid care!