Winter brings holiday gatherings, cozy evenings, and outdoor activities. But colder weather can create additional challenges for hearing-aid users, particularly moisture buildup, reduced battery performance, and interference from hats and scarves.
With a few simple habits, you can keep your hearing aids protected and working reliably throughout the season.
Protect Hearing Aids From Moisture and Condensation
Moisture is one of the most common winter risks for hearing aids.
When you move from cold outdoor air into a warm building, condensation may form on or inside your devices, similar to the way glasses fog up. Snow, sleet, sweat, and damp winter clothing can add even more moisture.
Because hearing aids contain sensitive electronic components, repeated moisture exposure may affect sound quality, block microphones or receivers, and eventually cause damage.
Wipe Them After Coming Indoors
If your hearing aids feel damp after being outside, remove them and wipe the exterior gently with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
Pay particular attention to:
- Microphone openings
- Domes and ear tips
- Receiver openings
- Battery compartments
- Charging contacts
Do not insert sharp objects into the microphones or receivers. Follow your manufacturer’s cleaning instructions for these delicate areas.
Use a Compatible Drying System
A hearing-aid drying jar or dehumidifier can help remove moisture that is not visible on the surface.
Place your devices in the drying system overnight or as directed by the manufacturer. If you use rechargeable hearing aids, confirm that the dryer is compatible with your specific devices and charger.
Do not place hearing aids on a radiator, use a hair dryer, put them in an oven, or apply any other direct heat. Excessive heat can damage batteries, casing, and internal electronics.
The FDA recommends following the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions and protecting hearing aids from water and heat in its guidance on obtaining and caring for hearing aids.
Protect Them From Snow and Rain
A hood, umbrella, or loose-fitting hat can help shield hearing aids from snow, rain, and sleet.
If your devices become wet:
- Turn them off.
- Remove disposable batteries if the design allows it.
- Wipe the exterior with a dry cloth.
- Place them in an approved drying system.
- Contact customer support if the sound remains distorted or the devices stop working.
Do not charge rechargeable hearing aids while the devices or charging contacts are wet.
Cold weather is only one source of device damage. Learn how common everyday activities can damage your hearing aids, including exercise, hair products, dust exposure, improper storage, and accidental drops.
Maintain Battery Performance in Cold Weather
Low temperatures can temporarily reduce battery performance. This may result in shorter use between charges or earlier low-battery warnings.
Start With a Full Charge
If you use rechargeable hearing aids, charge them fully before spending extended time outdoors.
Avoid leaving your hearing aids or charging case overnight in a cold car, garage, or unheated room. Allow a device that has become very cold to return gradually to room temperature before charging it.
Carry Power When Travelling
For longer winter trips, bring:
- Your charging case
- The correct charging cable
- A compatible wall adapter
- A portable power bank, if supported
- Spare disposable batteries, if your hearing aids use them
Check your battery level before leaving home, especially when travelling somewhere without easy access to power.
Store Disposable Batteries Properly
Keep spare zinc-air batteries in their original packaging in a dry, room-temperature location.
When carrying them outdoors, place the packaged batteries in a secure interior pocket where they will remain warmer. Do not carry loose batteries with coins, keys, or other metal objects, as this can cause them to short-circuit.
Do not refrigerate hearing-aid batteries.
Prevent Feedback From Hats and Scarves
Hats, earmuffs, hoods, and scarves can rub against behind-the-ear hearing aids. The fabric may cover the microphones, create muffled sound, or cause a high-pitched whistling noise known as feedback.
Choose Looser Winter Accessories
Select soft accessories that do not press tightly against your hearing aids.
A loose-knit hat, roomy hood, or fleece headband may create less interference than a tightly fitted wool hat. Test different options at home while speaking, walking, and turning your head.
Make sure the fabric does not cover the microphones.
Position Scarves Below the Ears
Keep the thickest part of your scarf around your neck rather than directly behind your ears.
This reduces rubbing against the hearing-aid casing and receiver wires while helping keep the microphones clear.
Remove Winter Clothing Carefully
Hearing aids can become caught in hats, scarves, masks, and coat collars.
Remove these items slowly and, when possible, over a table or another clear surface. If a hearing aid falls into snow, it can be extremely difficult to find and may be exposed to damaging moisture.
Before leaving a restaurant, car, or gathering, touch behind each ear to confirm that both devices are still in place.
Clean Domes and Wax Filters Regularly
Winter moisture can combine with earwax and debris, blocking sound pathways and making your hearing aids seem weaker than they are.
Inspect the domes and wax filters regularly. If the sound becomes faint, distorted, or uneven between ears, a blocked dome or wax filter may be responsible.
Replace disposable components according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Never wash electronic hearing-aid components or reuse parts intended for single use.
The Eara Complete Hearing Aid Care Kit includes a dry jar, cleaning tools, microfiber cloth, wax filters, hearing-aid domes, and storage accessories for everyday maintenance at home or while travelling.
Know When Feedback Needs More Attention
Winter clothing is not the only possible cause of feedback.
Persistent whistling may also indicate:
- An incorrectly fitted dome
- A blocked wax filter
- Earwax buildup
- A loose receiver connection
- Excessive volume
- A damaged component
If feedback continues after adjusting your hat and checking the device, contact your hearing-aid provider or customer-support team. Do not keep increasing the volume to compensate for weak or distorted sound.
Your Winter Hearing-Aid Checklist
Before heading outdoors:
- Charge your hearing aids and charging case.
- Check the weather for snow or rain.
- Wear a loose hat or protective hood.
- Carry packaged spare batteries or charging equipment.
- Make sure scarves and coat collars do not catch the devices.
After returning indoors:
- Check for visible moisture.
- Wipe the devices with a dry microfiber cloth.
- Inspect the domes and wax filters.
- Use a compatible drying system if necessary.
- Confirm that the charging contacts are dry before charging.
Winter weather does not have to interrupt better hearing. Keep your devices dry, protect their batteries, remove clothing carefully, and maintain the parts responsible for delivering clear sound.
