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Why Don't Manufacturers Offer Water Resistant Hearing Aids?

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Seems to me that in this day and age where we have water “proof” cell phones (iPhones claim to be waterproof and I have dropped my iPhone in the water a couple of times without any intrusion) that hearing aid manufacturers would do themselves and their clients a huge favor by working to protect hearing aids from water exposure. Why hasn’t that been an effort at all?

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Most hearing aids have the same water rating as phones and you could go swimming with them. That is assuming you trust a rating with a costly device. I have had my KS10’s in the pool many times and plan to use my Rexton Reach in the pool also but I do not dive under the water and am somewhat careful with them

Most are water resistant except for the receivers. Until we get a newer technology receiver I don’t think this will change.

WH

Yeah the Phonak ranges have an insane rating. The receiver does not, but hopefully that bit is in your ear when the rest gets wet. also you said resistant which is very different from proof. I’ve had Phonak spheres in a huge downpour before, absolutely no issues.

The “receiver” is the tiny loudspeaker that sits in your ear canal, powered by a small wire running to your behind-the-ear () .
Yes- very confusing term, as it sends, not receives sound…

In reply to @Xonic83

@Xonic83 said:

Yeah the Phonak ranges have an insane IP rating. The receiver does not

The Phonak Infinio user guide doesn’t exclude the receiver from the IP68 rating, nor does the Oticon Real user guide. I think the receiver is part of the hearing aid from the user’s POV. Why would the receiver be more vulnerable to permanent water damage than the microphones? And like you said, the receiver is in your ear, so it’s protected from water movement.

HansJ, I’m not sure where this is coming from. Not my experience. Good quality Rx hearing aids from the top manufacturers generally are water resistant these days. Not waterproof, but water resistant, able to withstand head sweat, brief exposure in rain, or forgetfully stepping into the shower with them on. Compared to 20 years ago, when they were prone to shorting out quickly with water around, hearing aids released in the last 5-10 years have made great strides in this area, as have cellphones.

Hearing aids can generally go for a dunk in freshwater and come out functional, especially if they are new. Some of the waterproofing wears down over the hearing aid lifespan. I’ve seen hearing aids work after going through the wash. I’ve seen them work after spending a winter under the snow.

Siemens made the Aquaris ages ago and marketted it as waterproof only to back off later. Phonak marketted the Life as waterproof and then backed off pretty quickly.

@Neville said:

Siemens made the Aquaris ages ago and marketted it as waterproof only to back off later. Phonak marketted the Life as waterproof and then backed off pretty quickly.

I used this in the early days of dinghy sailing. They marketed it as waterproof but it is analog. It got extremely wet and still worked.

IMG_1262

Edited

The rating of your hearing aids determines their resistance to water and dust. Electronics are rated by IP, (Ingress protection), numbers. The higher the numbers the greater the protection. If you look on this site under hearing aids is a definition of IP ratings.

See the following is a complete explanation: IP Ratings Explained | Ingress Protection Rating | IP Codes | Updated 20224.

In reply to @hamjor1

I should have explained my situation. I am trying out hearing aids for the first time in my life (I am 59 and deaf in one ear and increasing loss in the other). I am trying out the Oticon Real 1 Bi-Cross and was cautioned against getting them what AT ALL… and I have known people who have been thrown in the pool for example and bricked their $5000 hearing aids.

Come to find out they are a bit more water resistant than I thought.

Edited

I think so, yes. Oticon Real 1’s (and I think all other new Oticon models now) are rated IP68 water resistance:

Oticon Hearing Aids Review 20242

Enhance your hearing experience with advanced features and expertly crafted hearing aids from Oticon.

That’s pretty good, indicating it should survive brief encounters with water and sometimes will even be fine with more exposure, though for safety, it’s best to try to minimize the contact. For an explanation of what that rating means, see:

Are Hearing Aids Waterproof? Brands, IP Ratings and More.5

Most hearing aids are water-resistant (enter, a sigh of relief). In the guide below, our Soundly audio nerds dish on all things waterproof hearing aids, water resistance, ratings, and more.

IP68 is comparable to what many smartphones specify for water resistance
now:

How Waterproof Is My Phone? IP68, IPX8 Ratings Explained1

Can you take your iPhone swimming? Here's what those IP67, IP68 and IPX8 water-resistance ratings really mean.

And as I said, it’s way better than a decade or two ago, for both aids and phones. They have been working on this.

Good luck with your trial. Real 1’s are highly regarded, and I hope they work well for you!

Edited

Such that thing DID exist. It was developed by Siemens a while ago.
If I recall well it was call the Neptune or Nautilus (someone correct me please)

It features some covers which where made out of goretec and it did require to
have some parts replaces once in a while.

I was a HUGHE instrument - I suspect to have that insulation. If I recall well
it was a big flop. Never really took off … It sounded horrible (provided this was
nearly 20yrs ago)

Well, maybe the audiologist was just trying to scare me so I don’;t image the loaners.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Yes, they do.

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