Maintaining hearing aids and ensuring their longevity requires careful consideration and specific precautions. One such precaution involves removing hearing aids before using a hairdryer. The reasons are threefold:
- Blow dryers are loud, and there’s no need to amplify the noise of the hairdryer.
- Hearing aids need to avoid being exposed to extreme heat.
- The force of the wind can blow debris into the microphones of the hearing aids, causing them to get clogged.
It’s advisable to do your hair and let all hairspray and other hair products dry before putting your hearing aids back on. Here, we delve deeper into these three reasons.
See also: tips for using hearing aids with long hair.
Amplification of Noise
Hearing aids are designed to amplify sound to help individuals who have trouble hearing. While this function is incredibly beneficial in many circumstances, it’s not necessary – and could even be harmful – when using a hairdryer.
Hair dryers emit loud noise levels that typically range from 70 to 85 decibels. With a hearing aid, this noise could be amplified to potentially damaging levels, causing unnecessary discomfort.
| Hair Dryer Noise Level | Noise Level with Hearing Aid |
|---|---|
| 70-85 decibels | Potentially uncomfortable if amplified |
To maintain a comfortable and safe sound environment, it’s best to remove hearing aids before blow-drying your hair.
Exposure to Extreme Heat
Hearing aids are sensitive electronic devices. Like other electronics, hearing aids are not designed to withstand extreme temperatures. The heat emitted by a hairdryer can damage the internal components of hearing aids, potentially reducing their performance or causing them to fail prematurely.
Avoiding this unnecessary risk can be achieved by simply removing the hearing aids before drying your hair. This practice ensures the longevity of the device and maintains its optimal functionality.
Wind Force and Debris Clogging
Another risk posed by blow dryers is the forceful air they emit, which can blow debris into the hearing aids. This debris may clog the microphones, leading to muffled sound or even device malfunction over time.
Therefore, protecting the microphones from wind and debris is paramount to maintaining clear sound quality and proper function of the hearing aids.
Final Considerations
After blow-drying your hair, it’s advisable to wait until all hair products have thoroughly dried before reinserting your hearing aids. Hair products can contain chemicals that could damage the hearing aids over time. If your hearing aids have been damaged, they may need to go in for repair.
Adopting these simple yet effective measures can help ensure the long-term effectiveness of your hearing aids, safeguarding your investment and enhancing your hearing health.
