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Dog jumping into water to demonstrate how hearing aids can get wet easily when you're having fun this summer, because moisture damages hearing aids.



Let’s Talk About Humidity

Humidity is a word that gets bounced around a lot, especially during the summer months, but what does it mean? PBS describes humidity as water molecules in the air. When presented as a percentage, for example, the relative humidity is 40 percent today, it refers to the amount of water vapor in the air compared to what air could hold. The higher the percentage, the wetter everything feels.

Humans are very sensitive to humidity because sweat is the most efficient way to cool the body. When you sweat, it evaporates into the air, but that doesn’t happen as quickly when the humidity level is high. Electronics are also susceptible to humidity, and that is why it has such a detrimental effect on hearing aids.

Why Electronics Have a Problem with Humidity

Oddly enough, electronic devices are not just sensitive to high humidity, but low levels as well. When water vapor percentages are high, condensation can collect on the intricate mechanisms that make electronics work and low humidity can lead to brittle core materials.

Hearing aids rely heavily on internal electronics to function. Modern digital hearing aids use a sophisticated signal processing chip to control noise. It’s what is behind elegant features like:

  • Noise reduction
  • Anti-feedback
  • Targeted listening programs
  • Digital sound streaming

Moisture can collect inside the hearing aid when humidity is high and damage that component. It can corrode elements inside the casing and ruin batteries, as well. You might as well drop your hearing aid in a sink full of water, and the effect is the same.

Controlling Humidity

If you are shopping for hearing aids, look for products that are water-resistant. Having this feature doesn’t mean you can swim with your hearing aids in place, but it does offer some protection against humidity and other weather-related issues like getting caught in an unexpected rain storm or even sweat when you exercise.





Thinking Beyond Humidity



