Although you can safely wear your hearing aids during many activities, there are some that it is better to take them out for. The reason is because some activities are either too vigorous or too risky for the delicate components of hearing aids. Therefore, you should take them out to participate in them, unless they are specifically designed to be strong enough for the particular activity. Here are some of the top activities to avoid when wearing hearing aids.

1. Contact sports

Contact sports such as football, rugby or hockey should be avoided when you are wearing hearing aids. This is because aggressive contact while you are playing these sports can cause your hearing aids to be knocked out and damaged. If the fall out of your ear doesn’t break them, then they can easily be trampled on and destroyed by players on the field. So, there are multiple different ways that your hearing aids can be damaged during the playing of contact sports. For this reason, it is best to take your hearing aids out before participating in these sports.

2. Showering and swimming

The reason why showering and swimming can be hazardous to your hearing aids is because most hearing aids do not fare well when they are exposed to water. This means that showering or swimming when you have your hearing aids in can lead to extensive damage to your devices. Unless your hearing aids are designed to be completely waterproof, then you should avoid swimming and showering with your hearing aids still in your ears.

3. When you are sleeping

There is no need to wear your hearing aids when you are sleeping because you will not be conscious. Wearing your hearing aids when you are sleeping is not only unnecessary, but it can lead to unnecessary wax accumulation. Further, if your hearing aids accidentally fall out when you roll over, you could accidentally knock them off of your bed and onto the floor. This could damage them. Instead of wearing your hearing aids while you sleep, you should store them in a cool, dry place and open the battery door to let out any excess moisture.

Talk to your audiologist if you’re unsure about what activities are safe to participate in while wearing your hearing aids. The audiologist can provide you with hearing aid care tips, in addition to accessories that may keep them safe while completing your activities.