How to Protect Your Hearing Aid Against Heat: 7 Essential Tips

Introduction

Your hearing aids are engineered to handle daily wear — but extreme heat is one threat they're not built to withstand. Whether it's a parked car on a summer afternoon, an outdoor workout, or simply high ambient humidity, heat is one of the most common and most preventable causes of hearing aid damage.

Heat protection is one of the most overlooked aspects of hearing aid care. For a complete overview of all maintenance methods — including daily cleaning and professional servicing — visit our Hearing Aid Maintenance Comparison Guide.

Why Is Heat So Dangerous for Hearing Aids?

Hearing aids contain extremely small, precision-engineered internal components — including microchips, wiring, microphone grilles, and amplifiers. These components are highly sensitive to temperature changes.

Even moderate but sustained heat exposure can:

• Warp or crack the plastic outer casing
• Damage internal circuits irreparably
• Accelerate battery drain and shorten battery life
• Melt adhesive seals and compromise water resistance ratings
• Cause moisture trapped inside the device to expand and corrode metal contacts

Water and heat together are among the leading causes of hearing device failure. Pools, humidity, ocean water, unexpected rain, and sweat accumulation can all damage the microphone, clog tubing, and create internal corrosion — problems that are often invisible until the device stops working.

The 7 Best Ways to Protect Hearing Aids From Heat

Tip 1: Never Leave Them in Your Car

A parked car is one of the most dangerous environments for hearing aids. On a moderately warm day — around 95°F (35°C) outside — the interior temperature of a parked vehicle can reach 116°F (47°C) or higher within an hour.

This level of heat is more than sufficient to damage the internal circuitry, warp the casing, and destroy the battery. Never leave your hearing aids in a car, glove compartment, or centre console — even briefly.

Tip 2: Store Them in a Cool, Dry Place

When you're not wearing your hearing aids, store them somewhere consistently cool and dry. Key storage rules:

• ✅ Store in a hard protective case in a shaded, room-temperature location
• ✅ Use a dehumidifier case overnight to manage moisture
• ❌ Never store in the bathroom — steam from showers adds significant moisture exposure
• ❌ Never place on a sunny windowsill or near a radiator
• ❌ Avoid leaving in a gym bag, which traps heat and sweat

Tip 3: Use a Dehumidifier Case Every Night

Dehumidifier cases aren't just for winter — they're essential year-round, and especially valuable in summer when ambient humidity is higher.

A dehumidifier case uses a desiccant to actively draw moisture out of your hearing aids overnight. This protects against corrosion from humidity and sweat, extends the life of internal components, and ensures your devices are completely dry and ready to perform every morning.

👉 A dehumidifier case is also one of the top recommendations for extending your device's overall lifespan. See: How to Extend the Life of Hearing Aids for 10 full expert tips.

Tip 4: Be Careful With Sunscreen and Bug Spray

Summer sunscreen and insect repellent are essential for protecting your skin — but they're harmful to hearing aids. Chemical sprays and lotions can:

• Clog microphone ports and reduce sound quality
• Damage the outer casing finish
• Penetrate vents and affect internal components

Always follow this order:

1. Apply sunscreen or bug spray
2. Wait until it has been fully absorbed by your skin
3. Wash and dry your hands thoroughly
4. Then insert your hearing aids

This sequence prevents chemical contamination entirely.

Tip 5: Wear a Hat or Visor Outdoors

On hot, sunny days, wearing a wide-brimmed hat or visor serves double duty — it protects your skin and keeps your hearing aids shaded from direct sunlight. Sustained direct UV exposure can fade and weaken the plastic casing over time, particularly on BTE (behind-the-ear) models that sit fully exposed to the sun.

This is a simple, zero-cost protective measure that many hearing aid users overlook entirely.

Tip 6: Clean More Frequently in Hot Weather

Summer heat increases sweat production — and sweat is one of the most corrosive substances your hearing aids encounter regularly. During hot months, increase your cleaning frequency:

• Wipe down your devices with a soft, dry cloth after every wearing session
• Pay particular attention to clearing sweat from microphone ports and behind-the-ear tubing
• Inspect wax guards more frequently — heat can accelerate wax migration into the device

If you exercise regularly while wearing hearing aids, consider investing in sweat-resistant covers or sleeves designed specifically for hearing aid protection during physical activity.

Tip 7: Remove Them Before Swimming or Water Activities

Even hearing aids rated as water-resistant are not designed for submersion. The "water-resistant" rating on most devices covers incidental splashing — not swimming, surfing, or water sports.

If your hearing aids get wet:

1. Remove them immediately
2. Turn them off and open the battery door (if applicable)
3. Dry the exterior gently with a soft cloth
4. Do not use a hairdryer — the heat will cause additional damage
5. Place in a dehumidifier case for at least 8 hours before use

What Temperature Is Safe for Hearing Aids?

Most hearing aids operate best at standard room temperature — roughly 65–75°F (18–24°C). Sustained exposure to temperatures above 100°F (38°C) puts devices at serious risk of damage.

For reference:

Summer Heat Protection: Quick Reference Checklist

Use this as a daily reminder during warm months:

✅ Never leave hearing aids in a parked car ✅ Store in a cool, dry case — not the bathroom ✅ Use a dehumidifier case overnight ✅ Apply sunscreen and bug spray before inserting hearing aids ✅ Wear a hat outdoors to keep devices shaded ✅ Wipe down after sweating — clean more often in summer ✅ Remove before swimming, showering, or water sports ✅ If they get wet, dry naturally — never use a hairdryer

Related Articles

• Hearing Aid Maintenance Comparison — Compare all maintenance methods side by side
• How to Extend the Life of Hearing Aids — Complete 10-tip daily care guide
• Are OTC Hearing Aids HSA Eligible? — Use tax-free funds for hearing aid accessories