Last Updated on August 21, 2025 by Jonathan Javid Au.D.
Hearing aids are powerful yet delicate medical devices. While they are designed to handle the challenges of everyday life, extreme environments like saunas and steam rooms pose serious risks. If you’ve wondered whether it’s safe to keep your hearing aids in while enjoying these relaxing spaces, the short answer is: no. Here’s why.
Why Saunas and Steam Rooms Are Dangerous for Hearing Aids
Hearing aids contain sensitive electronics, microphones, receivers, and batteries that can be permanently damaged by excessive heat and humidity.
- High heat: Temperatures in saunas often reach 160–200°F (70–93°C). This can warp plastics, weaken adhesives, and degrade the tiny soldered joints inside your devices.
- Moisture buildup: Steam rooms and traditional saunas create an environment where condensation forms inside the hearing aids, leading to corrosion, microphone failure, and distortion.
- Battery issues: Both disposable and rechargeable batteries are vulnerable. Excess heat shortens their lifespan and increases the risk of swelling or leakage.
Even short exposure can dramatically reduce the life of your hearing aids.
Dry Heat vs. Steam: Does It Make a Difference?
Not all saunas are the same, and it’s worth understanding the differences:
- Traditional Finnish Saunas (Dry Heat)
These rely on heated stones. While the environment is less humid than a steam room, the extreme heat alone is enough to damage hearing aids. - Infrared Saunas
These use infrared lamps to directly heat the body. Temperatures are generally lower (110–140°F / 43–60°C), but prolonged exposure still risks overheating electronics. - Steam Rooms
Steam rooms maintain nearly 100% humidity at lower temperatures (110–120°F / 43–49°C). This combination of moisture and heat is the most dangerous for hearing aids, causing condensation inside components.
In every case, the safe choice is to remove your hearing aids before entering.
What to Do With Your Hearing Aids While in a Sauna or Steam Room
If you plan to use a sauna or steam room, take precautions to protect your devices:
- Remove them beforehand – Always take your hearing aids out before entering.
- Store them safely – Place them in a protective case or, ideally, a hearing aid dehumidifier box kept outside the sauna.
- Dry them afterward – If you accidentally wore them inside, immediately place them in a hearing aid dryer or desiccant kit (such as Dry & Store kits on Amazon).
Can “Waterproof” Hearing Aids Handle Saunas?
Some manufacturers market their hearing aids as water-resistant or even sweatproof, but this does not mean they can survive a sauna or steam room.
- IP ratings (like IP68) protect against short-term immersion in water, not prolonged exposure to high heat and humidity.
- Sweatproof designs may resist perspiration during workouts but are not intended for extreme moisture environments.
For more detail, see: Are There Waterproof Hearing Aids?.
Key Takeaway
Never wear your hearing aids in a sauna, steam room, or hot tub. The combination of heat and moisture can cause irreversible damage, void warranties, and lead to expensive repairs. Always remove them and store them in a dry, safe place before enjoying these environments.
If your devices are accidentally exposed, use a drying kit immediately and contact your audiologist if problems persist.