Support an Active Lifestyle with Hearing Aids

Support an Active Lifestyle with Hearing Aids

In Hearing Aid Technology, Hearing Aids by Bary E. Williams Au.D.

Among the many reasons that some people hesitate to get hearing aids, an active lifestyle can be one of the factors causing resistance. Some people have the false sense that hearing aids might get in the way of the activities they enjoy the most. When the opportunity to get hearing aids comes along, these people might feel like they won’t be able to use them during physical activity, so why bother at all? Despite this common miscalculation, hearing aids can actually promote an active lifestyle. 

Not only are some activities easier to engage with hearing aids in place, but they also make a wide array of activities safer, as well. The key is to get hearing aids that are suited to the activities you like most, with protective features to make them last despite the wear and tear that an active lifestyle can cause. Let’s look at the important features that make hearing aids an essential part of your active lifestyle, no matter what activities you like to pursue. 

Resisting Damage by the Elements

If you take part in outdoor activities such as camping, jogging, hiking, or using recreational vehicles, you know it’s quite possible to get caught in inclement weather. If you are wearing hearing aids when a summer storm hits, you might be worried about water exposure. Even your own sweat can be a concern, particularly for high-impact aerobic activities like jogging. If you like these outdoor or sweaty indoor activities, it’s important to have moisture resistance in your aids. When you are getting hearing aids, talk to your provider about the IP rating of the devices. 

A good baseline of water resistance is an IP68 rating. This rating means that your hearing aids should be able to withstand 30 minutes submerged in 3 feet of water. Although it’s wise not to test that limit, you can trust that some humidity or moisture won’t be a problem for IP68 hearing aids. You will still need to have careful habits in place to dry your aids after activity and to store them in a device that removes any moisture that has made its way into the inner components. This rating also protects against debris, dust, and sand, so you should be in good shape for camping and other encounters with the great outdoors. 

Waterproof Hearing Aids

If you’re interested in wearing your hearing aids while swimming or taking part in other water sports, you will need more advanced water protection. These aids have even higher IP ratings, and they can be more expensive, as well. Many people rely on an IP68 rating for activities that can risk your hearing aids being splashed, but they remove hearing aids while swimming for fitness or pleasure. Those who play team water sports such as polo might find it worth the additional expense to get waterproof hearing aids, making it possible to communicate during the game with your teammates. 

Music Streaming and Smartphone Connectivity

Many people who take part in fitness and other activities have come to rely on Bluetooth connectivity or other wireless streaming technology. In the place of wireless earbuds that play music or instructional videos during fitness activities, many hearing aids are now Bluetooth enabled, as well. Not only can you benefit from amplifying environmental noise in the world, including the voices of others in the room, but you can also stream music, videos, phone calls, and phone notifications directly to your hearing devices. 

This integration of media and sound amplification makes it easy to exercise with hearing aids in place while pivoting directly to a conversation with someone at the gym. This combination of functions is also necessary to be safe while jogging or exercising outdoors where you need to remain aware of traffic and other dangers. If you are interested in hearing aids with a higher IP rating, waterproof rating, or Bluetooth connectivity, don’t hesitate to make a call to our offices. We can discuss which hearing aids are available on the market to meet your hearing needs and to support your active lifestyle and at the same time. Don’t let hearing loss prevent you from taking part in your favorite activities!

Bary E. Williams Au.D.
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