Living and practicing audiology in Arizona, we know monsoon season brings some unique challenges. We tend to think about extreme heat, sudden downpours and massive dust storms, but there’s another consideration for the thousands of Arizonans who rely on hearing aids every day: their hearing aids are exposed to the same environment they are.

Modern hearing aids are remarkably durable, but they are also sophisticated electronic devices with tiny microphones, speakers and other components that can be affected by dust, debris and moisture.

Arizona dust can affect hearing aid performance

Hearing aids rely on microphones to collect sound from the environment. When fine dust and debris accumulate around microphone openings, they can interfere with sound entering the hearing aid.

Debris can also accumulate around the receiver, or speaker, that delivers sound into the ear. Earwax is typically the biggest concern in this area, but Arizona’s dusty environment gives us another potential source of contamination.

The result may be hearing aids that suddenly sound weak, muffled, distorted or intermittent. In some cases, a hearing aid may stop producing sound altogether.

One thing we tell our patients is that a change in hearing aid performance doesn’t necessarily mean their hearing has changed. If your hearing aids sounded great yesterday and suddenly sound different after significant dust exposure, the devices themselves should be inspected.

It takes very little moisture to create a big problem

Arizona may be known for its dry climate, but monsoon season brings humidity, sweat and sudden exposure to rain.

It takes surprisingly little moisture to affect hearing aid performance. Testing has shown that just 0.5 microliters of water inside a hearing aid receiver can reduce its output by as much as 30 decibels. To put that amount into perspective, 0.5 microliters is only about 1/100th of a typical drop of water.

Many modern hearing aids have excellent water-resistance ratings, but water resistant does not necessarily mean waterproof.

If your hearing aids get wet, don’t use a hair dryer, microwave, oven or other source of heat to dry them. Instead, wipe the exterior with a clean, dry cloth and use a hearing aid drying system or dehumidifier that is appropriate for your devices.

Cleaning your hearing aids after a dust storm

After significant dust exposure, gently wipe the exterior of your hearing aids and inspect the microphone openings, domes and wax protection system for visible debris.

Avoid aggressively pushing pins or other objects into microphone or receiver openings. These are delicate components, and improper cleaning can cause more problems than the dust itself.

Specialized hearing aid vacuum systems can also remove dust, wax and other debris from small openings. We use professional vacuum equipment in our office for this purpose. There are also consumer versions, such as Jodi-Vac systems, that hearing aid users can purchase for at-home maintenance. Your hearing care professional can show you how to use these tools appropriately for your specific devices.

Small daily habits can prevent bigger problems

During monsoon season, we recommend making a quick visual inspection part of your daily routine. Check for visible dust or debris, keep your charging area clean and dry, and store your hearing aids in a protected location when you aren’t wearing them.

If you regularly sweat heavily, work outdoors or are frequently exposed to moisture, a hearing aid dehumidifier or drying system can also be worthwhile.

Most importantly, pay attention to changes in performance. You wear your hearing aids every day, which means you’re often the first person who will notice when something isn’t right.

Know when an at-home cleaning isn’t enough

There is a limit to what should be handled at home.

If routine cleaning doesn’t restore normal performance, or if you experience persistent weak sound, distortion, intermittency or charging problems, the hearing aids should be professionally evaluated.

At , we can micro suction debris from areas that are difficult to properly clean at home. For hearing aids that have accumulated significant moisture or become saturated with water, we can also perform professional dehydration to extract moisture from inside the devices.

Perhaps most importantly, we can use specialized hearing aid test equipment to objectively determine whether a hearing aid is performing according to manufacturer specifications. A hearing aid can turn on and produce sound without necessarily performing the way it should.

Arizona’s monsoon season is hard on a lot of things, and hearing aids are no exception. Fortunately, a little preventive maintenance, appropriate cleaning and knowing when to seek professional help can go a long way toward keeping your hearing aids performing the way they’re supposed to.

Author: Dr. Clifford Olson, Au.D is the founder of Applied Hearing Solutions.