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How does water in the ear canal effect hearing aid performance?

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After swimming or taking a shower I know I have water in my ear canals. How does this effect the performance? How diligent should I be in trying to get the water out, and how?

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Modern are IP68: Modern HAs are designed to be IP68 rated, meaning they can be submerged in water for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter.

The only way that I know to get the water out of your ear is by tilting your head and pulling your ear lobe) (I was told "never push anything inside of your ear).

Maybe use desiccant pills or a dehumidifier at the end of the day (Depending on what type of hearing aids, molds , etc you use).

I think it depends on what type of aids you have. When I wore aids water in my ears would sometimes get into the tubes and cause cracking or shut off the sound completely. I haven’t had that issue since switching to aids.

Fifty years ago, when swimming and scuba diving the solution to water in the ear canal was to put a single drop of grain alcohol in the affected ear. The alcohol mixes with the water thereby changing the viscosity. It causes the water to easily drain out of the ear. What doesn’t drain out, quickly evaporates with the alcohol.

I imagine if you have perforated ear drum or other ear damage this could present additional problems.

I knew some who believed the alcohol could remove naturally occurring oils with the water, possibly weakening the thin ear drum or causing it to lose flexibility.

I advise seeking medical advice before trying this.

Edited

For swimming I use swimmers plugs & shower just be a little careful. I have used aquaear or similar drying agent in the past but after a disaster late last year (ending stone deaf for 1-1/2 days, won’t use it ever again.

I always use ear plug to shower. I wear Oticon Own and moisture will always affect both the quality and quantity of volume.

Hearing aid can absorb the water and that will block sound. Keep your ears and your pawder dry.

This article14 contains more than you’ll ever need to know about how water affects hearing aid performance. It is written by someone who works for redux who manufacture by far the best hearing aid (and other small electronic devices) dehydration systems.

If you can dry your ears before putting your hearing aids in, it is a good thing. I suspect Sonova’s (Phonak, Unitron) new easyguard domes that prevent wax ingress into the receiver also reduce moisture ingress as well, but they haven’t been marketed that way.

In reply to @WhiteHat

Even tiny amounts of water can reduce output by 30dB according to Redux. I’ve seen this occur in clinic. Because you typically dry the entire aid at once and not the receiver alone it is tricky to know how much water was in the loudspeaker itself.

Overview

Yes, water and moisture can temporarily block or damage the hearing aid

(wax guard). Even a tiny droplet of water trapped over the mesh filter can cause sound to become completely muffled or distorted by blocking the sound output. [1, 2, 3]

How Water Affects the Wax Filter

  • Temporary Sound Blockage: Water creates surface tension across the mesh, effectively sealing the filter and preventing sound from coming out of the hearing aid receiver. [1, 2]

  • Combined Clogging: If there is any earwax present in your ear, water causes it to swell, making it much more likely to firmly clog the wax guard mesh. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

  • Filter Degradation: Wax guards are not designed to be submerged in water or cleaned with liquid cleaners. Moisture can weaken or deform the delicate mesh material, rendering it ineffective at stopping wax and debris. [1, 2, 3]

What You Should Do

  1. Check and Dry: If your hearing aid sounds muffled after water exposure, remove it, gently wipe the outside dry with a soft cloth, and let it air dry completely. [1, 2]

  2. Do Not Clean the Filter: Never wash or use liquid cleaners on a wax guard. Instead, you should simply replace the hearing aid wax guard if the mesh remains clogged or damaged. [1, 2, 3, 4]

  3. Use a Hearing Aid Dryer: If you frequently get water in your ears or struggle with sweat/humidity, consider using a dedicated dehumidifier or hearing aid dryer overnight

Another variable is if you generate much wax as I have found that if I put my ’s in pretty soon after a shower, the heat in my ears can melt the wax that has accumulated on the and basically cover the wax filter and cause a massive reduction in volume. Needing me to change the wax filter…as long as you have one handy.

I’m less concerned about hearing aid performance than about ear infections. Trapped water is a breeding ground for bacteria and ear infections are a pain with hearing aids. I use an ear spray with alcohol - very effective but perhaps not for everyone, depending on the state of your ear drums and ear canal.

I simply wrap a piece of tissue around my 3rd finger and out that in my ear gently. It absorbs all the water. I do this after every shower/swim and it works fine.

In reply to @nina79

This is very true, I avoid all liquids in my ears, even ear drops, I’ve got perforated eardrum, so I can not afford to get any water trapped in my ear, especially when wearing hearing aids all day.

In reply to @seadog

I’ve noticed lately how my hearing aids feedbacks ever so slightly, and lots of moisture in my ear because of the hot weather, I’m constantly having to take them out to dry both ear mould and inside of my ear, anyone had this trouble before, because in my 30 years of wearing aids I never have actually.

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