On average, most Americans wait about 7-10 years from the time they notice changes in their hearing to the time they seek help from a professional. There are many reasons for this. Some wrongfully believe that hearing aids will make them look older, others believe that hearing aids will not work, and perhaps, others still believe that hearing aids will keep them from enjoying the active lifestyle they enjoy.

Luckily, hearing aid technology has made leaps and bounds in the last few decades, improving design, efficacy, and of course, durability for even the most active lifestyles. Below we outline some of the most important considerations to make when looking in to purchase hearing aids that will allow you to keep doing the sports and activities that you love.

Consider wind reduction

From running, to kayaking, to biking, most outdoor sports and activities deal with wind noise. The noise from wind rushing past your ears is annoying for those without hearing loss, and can be frustrating and even dangerous for those who do have a hearing loss. Today, there are many hearing aids that are equipped with specific noise reduction technology to help reduce the sound of wind rushing past your ears. With noise reduction technology in one’s hearing aids, the obnoxious wind sounds are reduced, allowing the wearer to hear more of the sounds they need to keep them safe, like road noise.

Consider your need for music

Many people enjoy listening to music when they do physical activities. Luckily, many of today’s hearing aids make listening to music while working out extremely easy. Most newer hearing aids have Bluetooth capability, which allow wearers to stream music, podcasts, or whatever else they like to listen to while participating in physical activities. No more need for Bluetooth headphones - as your hearing aids themselves become the ear buds!

Consider hearing aid style

The style of hearing aids that a wearer chooses is also important for those with an active lifestyle. Behind the ear (BTE) or Receiver in canal (RIC) hearing aids can sometimes make wearing other equipment such as glasses more difficult. Because of this, many people with an active lifestyle will choose to wear completely in canal (CIC) or invisible in canal (IIC) hearing aids instead. They are also less likely to become dislodged while being active. Be sure to discuss this with your hearing health care professional, as there are many more considerations to take into account when choosing which style is the best fit for you.

Consider durability

If you lead an active lifestyle, then chances are you will need a hearing aid that is durable enough to keep up with you. Be sure to discuss the durability of your hearing aid options with your hearing health care professional to ensure that you purchase hearing aids that are capable of encountering some physical impact, dust and debris, and water. We discuss water resistance more thoroughly in the paragraph below.

Consider water resistance

There are virtually no hearing aids on the market today that are fully, 100% waterproof. Instead, most hearing aids are water resistant with an IP rating of 68. With this IP rating, wearers can use their hearing aids for activities where there is moisture in the air, like kayaking, or skiing, however, not for activities where full underwater immersion is required like surfing or swimming. Hearing aids with an IP rating of 68 are also able to resist dust particles and sweat.

High quality hearing aids dryers for those with an active lifestyle

Many times clients come into your office complaining about issues with their hearing aids, the problem is often excess moisture buildup in their hearing devices. This can be especially true for those who lead an active lifestyle. A Redux hearing aid dryer can help to eliminate this issue for your clients, right on the spot. Our patented technology actually lowers the evaporation rate of water, meaning that our dryers can fully eliminate all moisture from your clients’ hearing aids while maintaining a temperature that is still safe for the devices.

If you are interested in renting or owning a high quality Redux hearing aid dryer for use in your hearing aid clinic, reach out to our friendly team today. We look forward to an opportunity to speak with you about your practice.

Written by James Shrake

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