Going for an evening swim at Daffin Pool is an excellent summer activity. If you wear hearing aids, you’ll need to take their waterproofing into account before you head to the pool.
Waterproof Hearing Aids
Hearing aids carry something called an IP rating that tells you how water-resistant or waterproof they are.[1] Each rating has two numbers; the first measures how dust-proof, from one to six, the object is, and the second measures how waterproof, from one to nine, it is. Newer hearing aids often feature an IP68 rating. An IP68 rating means that your devices are dust-proof and protected against continuous immersion in water.
Older hearing aids may not offer any degree of waterproofing or may only have a water-resistant coating. If your hearing aids don’t have that IP68 rating, you’ll need to be extra careful near water.
Can I Wear Waterproof Hearing Aids in the Pool?
Even with a high IP rating, you shouldn’t intentionally submerge your hearing aids. The protection is intended to keep your hearing aids safe if you drop them in the pool or splash them.
Protecting Hearing Aids From Water Damage
When you get to the pool, remove your hearing aids and place them in their case, in a safe location (your locker, a lawn chair area, etc.). If you want to wear your hearing aids around the pool, attach them to your shirt with clips or place silicone covers over the bodies of your devices. Just remember to remove them before diving in.
If you accidentally dive into the pool before removing your hearing aids, take the following steps:
- Gently towel-dry your devices
- Turn your hearing aids off
- Take out the batteries if they’re removable
- Place your devices in a drying jar or specialty hearing aid dehumidifier (don’t use a hair dryer or anything else that isn’t specifically designed for your hearing aids to dry your devices)
You should also be on the lookout for signs of water damage, like sound distortions. Crackling, whistling and low volume are a few types of sound distortion. If sound issues arise, contact Audiology and Hearing Aid Services to schedule a repair and service appointment with one of our specialists.
[1] International Electrotechnical Commission. (2020, February 12). Ingress protection (IP) ratings guide. https://www.iec.ch/basecamp/ingress-protection-ip-ratings-guide