Hearing aids shouldn’t hold you back from living the life you love. Having a hearing loss doesn’t mean giving up your favorite activities, including exercise. So, can you wear hearing aids while working out and sweating? Yes, but you’ll want to be sure to properly care for them to keep them functioning at their best.
Taking precautions
Modern hearing aids are designed to accommodate someone with an active lifestyle. As long as you take proper precautions to minimize moisture, prevent loss, and have a consistent post workout plan, you should be able to enjoy all types of exercise and play.
Keep them safe and dry
Use clips attached to clothing, retainers, or sports headbands to keep your aids in place. This will prevent them from falling or getting damaged.
Protect from moisture
Purchase a cover to absorb sweat and/or use a sweatband.
Have the proper fit
This is important when exercising. They should fit snugly so they can’t shift during your workout. Ask your hearing specialist to check on the proper fit.
Keep them clean and dry after exercising
Just as you would perform a cool down after every workout, your hearing aids need the same maintenance routine. Wipe down with a soft cloth to remove sweat and dirt, use a puffer to remove any moisture, and store them properly. No water or other cleaners should be used, and keep them away from heat or sunlight. They will be ready to go next time.
Benefits of wearing your hearing aids during exercise
Whether you are at the gym, running in a park or on a track, playing softball, or any other fun activity, there are some real benefits to wearing your hearing aids.
- Some sports like softball require communication between teammates. Trying to catch a fly ball with three players looking upward can become a possible injury scenario without communication. You want to be able to hear “I got it, I got it” from your teammate so there is no collision.
- Sometimes background noise can be a problem when wearing hearing aids. You may want to hear instructions in a noisy gym setting. Ask your hearing specialist for a custom setting to reduce background noise.
- Wearing your hearing aids while jogging, for instance, helps you hear important sounds around you like emergency vehicles. This will keep you safer.
- Listening to your favorite tunes can be enjoyable and help the time go faster. Set up bluetooth to your aids and “rock out” as you run or pump iron.
Talk to a hearing specialist in your area if you have additional concerns about wearing your hearing aids while exercising and sweating.