Last Updated on August 4, 2025 by Jonathan Javid Au.D.
Maintaining hearing aids and ensuring their longevity requires thoughtful precautions—one of which is removing hearing aids before using a hairdryer. The reasons are threefold and backed by both acoustic science and audiology best practices:
- Blow dryers are loud—amplifying them through hearing aids can be harmful.
- Extreme heat can damage the sensitive electronic components inside hearing aids.
- Blow dryers can push debris into microphones, leading to performance issues.
It’s best to style your hair and allow any hairspray or styling products to dry completely before putting your hearing aids back in. Below, we explore each reason in greater detail.
See also: Tips for using hearing aids with long hair.
1. Amplification of Hair Dryer Noise
Hearing aids are designed to amplify sounds—helping those with hearing loss navigate daily life. However, this can become counterproductive in noisy environments, such as when using a hairdryer.
Hairdryers typically emit noise levels ranging from 70 to 85 decibels. When this sound is amplified through a hearing aid, it can become uncomfortable or even harmful to your ears.
| Hair Dryer Noise Level | Effect When Amplified by Hearing Aid |
|---|---|
| 70–85 dB | May exceed comfortable levels, potentially harmful |
To maintain comfort and avoid over-amplifying unnecessary noise, remove your hearing aids before using a hairdryer.
2. Exposure to Extreme Heat
Hearing aids are delicate electronic devices, and as such, they are vulnerable to heat damage. The high temperatures produced by a hairdryer can impair internal components and cause long-term degradation.
As highlighted in our article on wearing hearing aids in a sauna, heat exposure accelerates wear and can lead to sudden failure or erratic performance. Removing your devices before applying heat is a simple way to safeguard your investment.
3. Wind Force and Debris Intrusion
Hairdryers also produce powerful airflow, which can carry dust, hair, or other particles directly into your hearing aid’s microphones. Over time, this can lead to clogged microphone ports, reduced sound clarity, or mechanical failure.
To help prevent this, it’s important to routinely clean your microphones and avoid exposure to high-velocity air sources such as blow dryers.
Final Considerations
After drying your hair, wait until any products like hairspray or mousse have fully dried before reinserting your hearing aids. These products can corrode components or clog microphone openings. If your devices have been affected by product damage, you may need to have them professionally repaired.
Practicing these preventive measures helps extend the life of your hearing aids, ensures better sound quality, and protects your hearing investment.