Are Hearing Aids Waterproof?

Hearing aids are not waterproof. That is why hearing aid manufacturers do not recommend submerging any of their devices in water. Hearing aids are designed to be water-resistant to help protect the sensitive electronic parts from moisture. While you should never jump into the pool or lake with your hearing aids on, you may still find yourself caught in the rain or outdoors in high humidity.

All hearing aids receive two “IP” ratings from the International Electrotechnical Commission to determine how resistant they are to dust and water. Here are what the two numbers mean:

● The first digit rates the degree of protection against debris, such as dust or sand, and is rated on a scale of 1-7.

● The second digit indicates how resistant the electrical device is to moisture and is rated on a scale from 1-8. Below you can find a scale relating to the water-resistant rating.

For example, a hearing aid with an IP67 rating means it is highly protected against solid objects such as sand or dust and has been tested to work for at least 30 minutes in water less than three feet deep.

• 0 - No protection

• 1 - Dripping water (1 mm rainfall per min.) for 10 minutes

• 2 - Dripping water (3 mm rainfall per min.) for 10 minutes

• 3 - Spraying water (0.7 litres per min.) for 5 minutes

• 4 - Splashing water (10 litres per min.) for 5 minutes

• 5 - Water jets from all directions (12.5 litres per min) for 3 minutes

• 6 - Powerful water jets (100 litres per min.) for 3 minutes

• 7 - Immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes

• 8 - Continuous immersion beyond 1 meter

Regardless of where your hearing aid rests on the scale it is still recommended to keep your hearing aids away from water.¹

Here are a few tips to keep your hearing aids protected from water while still having fun in the sun:

• Bring hearing aid storage
• Invest in a hearing aid dryer
• Evaluate the types of hearing aids available
• Keep the battery door open, if available on your hearing aids, when the hearing aids are not in use