

There are a lot of different things that can damage the delicate technology that makes a hearing aid work the way it does, but few have the impact of water. Hearing aids seem to self-destruct under severe moisture conditions. Taking that into consideration, humidity is a huge problem.

Irreversible damage is done by moisture that you can’t see. It’s essential to educate yourself about why humidity harms hearing aids.

Understanding Humidity

Even though the word humidity is very common, what does it really mean? PBS defines humidity as water molecules in the air. The relative humidity refers to the ratio of water molecules in the air compared to how many the air can actually hold. The greater the percentage, the wetter everything feels.

Humans cool down their body by sweating so that makes us very sensitive to humidity. When humidity levels are high our sweat will not evaporate as quickly. Moisture and electronics don’t mix well and that includes hearing aids.

Why Electronics Have an issue with Humid Weather

Too high or, too low, humidity can influence your hearing aids. When it’s too moist, the intricate electronics will accumulate condensation. When it’s too dry things become more brittle.

Hearing aids depend heavily on internal electronics to work. Modern digital hearing aids use a state-of-the-art signal processing chip to control noise. It’s what is behind elegant features like:

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

High humidity causes moisture to accumulate inside the hearing aids damaging that chip. Batteries get destroyed and you get corrosion of elements inside of the case. It’s the same as dropping your hearing aid in a bathtub of water.

Keeping Humidity Under Control

If you are looking at hearing aids, try to 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 give some protection against humidity and other weather-related issues like getting caught in an unexpected rainstorm or even sweat when you work out.

When it’s very humid try to minimize indoor water vapor by using a dehumidifier. It’s not only your hearing aid that will benefit, there are health benefits, and other electronics in your house will also be protected. Dehumidifiers reduce the risk of mold, mildew and dust mites, so everyone breathes a little better, too. However, protecting your hearing aid more completely will require additional thinking. There are a few other things you can and should do.




Thinking Beyond Humidity


  • Try not to put your hearing aid down on wet surfaces. You don’t want to place it in a wet spot left by a glass or coffee cup.
