Can You Shower with Hearing Aids?

This blog post has been reviewed and approved by a hearing care professional.

Hearing aids are designed to be water-resistant. This is to help protect sensitive electronic parts from moisture from the environment and your ear canals. This means that you don’t have to worry about sweating too much or getting caught in the rain. However, you should not ever wear your hearing aids in the shower. It is always best to remove them before you get into the shower.


Moisture damage is one of the top reasons hearing aids are sent in for repair. If your hearing aids are exposed to water or moisture more frequently it can affect their lifespan. In fact, when you purchase hearing aids your hearing care professional will discuss regular maintenance with you. This will include information about how to protect your hearing aids from moisture.


How Water-Resistant Are Hearing Aids?
All hearing aids receive two “IP” ratings from the
International Electrotechnical Commission. This is 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. 

 

For example, a hearing aid with an IP67 rating means it is highly protected against debris such as sand or dust. It also means it has been tested to work for at least 30 minutes in water less than three feet deep.1
What To Do If You Wear Your Hearing Aids Into The Shower

Life happens. We understand that sometimes we can be caught up in life and forget to remove our hearing aids before stepping into the shower, or going into water. If you accidentally wear your hearing aids into the shower here are some things you should do:


  • Remove your hearing aids and place them outside of the shower as soon as you realize that you are still wearing them.

  • Open the battery door to fully allow air to circulate and remove the batteries if they aren’t rechargeable.

  • Dry the hearing aid gently in a towel; trying to remove as much water from the devices as possible.

  • Place the hearing aids in a hearing aid dryer or dehumidifier

What is a Hearing Aid Dehumidifier?
The dehumidifier is designed to remove moisture from hearing aids. Many people store their hearing aids in the container when the devices are not in use. There are a number of different hearing aid dehumidifiers available. Ask your hearing care professional which option may be right for you and your hearing aid style.

The Takeaway
Once you are happy that the aid is dried, put in a fresh battery and try it out. If your hearing aid isn’t working after accidentally wearing them in the shower, call your hearing care professional. They can send the hearing aid to the manufacturer to be repaired or fix them at the hearing centre. It depends on what needs to be done to get them working again.

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1“Widex Water Resistant Inside and Out.” Widex. Accessed May 27, 2022. https://www.widex.biz/axapta/documents/9%20502%203196%20001%2001.pdf