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If you’re an active person who uses hearing aids, you might be wondering whether you can exercise or play sports while wearing them. The good news is that modern hearing aids are more durable than ever before, and many athletes and fitness enthusiasts find that wearing hearing aids for workouts or games improves their performance and keeps them safe.
In this post, the Markham audiologists at Archer Hearing Centre will discuss exercising with hearing aids and answer some common questions on the subject.
Yes, you can wear hearing aids while working out! In fact, it’s often recommended that you do so. Hearing aids help you stay aware of your surroundings, which is crucial for safety – whether you're jogging on a busy street, lifting weights at the gym, or taking a group kickboxing class.
A study that investigated the link between senior citizens’ hearing and their level of physical activity found that older adults with hearing loss were more sedentary. The researchers noted that wearing hearing aids could help seniors with hearing loss stay physically active because of the aforementioned safety factor and the fact that being able to hear reduces cognitive processing demands and alleviates communication challenges.
For those who enjoy working out with music or like to stay connected to their phone, a lot of modern hearing aids offer Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to stream music, phone calls, and audio directly through the device.
That said, there are a couple of considerations if you do wear hearing aids when working out, particularly when it comes to moisture and keeping the devices secure in your ears, which we’ll get to shortly.
Absolutely! You can play sports with hearing aids, whether a team sport or an individual one. Wearing your hearing aids will enhance your performance by keeping you connected to your environment and allowing you to hear your coach, teammates, and other important cues more clearly.
However, if you’re involved in contact sports like football or rugby, you’ll need to take extra care to secure your hearing aids to prevent them from being knocked loose and damaged.
A frequent question we get at our Markham audiology clinic is, “Can you swim with a hearing aid?” Unfortunately, the answer is generally no, especially if you’re swimming underwater. Although most modern hearing aids are highly water-resistant, there is still a risk of damage if they are submerged in water. There’s also a greater chance of the hearing aids coming off your ears underwater, making them easy to lose. Plus, the hearing aids won’t sound very good if you’re underwater anyway. For these reasons, it’s best to bring a case to store your hearing aids while swimming if you plan to put your head under the surface at all.
However, don’t fret if you spend a lot of time around water, as there are many highly water-resistant hearing aids on the market. While they aren’t designed to be worn while swimming underwater, this feature is a safety net in case the hearing aid gets dropped in the pool or the bath, or you forget to take them out while showering.
It should be fine to wear hearing aids if you’re wading, treading water, or doing aquafit, as long as you won’t be putting your head underwater (and your friends know not to dunk you). Just make sure that the hearing aids fit securely on your ears and won’t fall out. We talk more about securing your hearing aids further down this page.
Many hearing aids are water-resistant, meaning a little bit of sweat isn’t going to destroy them. However, no devices are completely immune to moisture. Excessive or prolonged perspiration can potentially lead to damage and bacteria growth.
To prevent this, wipe your hearing aids off after doing sweaty activities or being outside on a hot day. You may also want to use a dehumidifier or dry jar designed to remove moisture from hearing aids. Lastly, if you’re concerned about sweat and moisture, ask your audiologist for recommendations.
If you’ll be running with hearing aids, playing a contact sport, or doing any type of moderate- or high-impact activity, secure your devices so they don’t fall out or shift around. Depending on the situation, you may want to:
To help your hearing aids last longer and work more effectively, after exercising:
While you will want to take some precautions to manage sweat and make sure the hearing aids are secure, wearing hearing aids won’t interfere with your active lifestyle. Whether hitting the gym, playing a sport, or running, hearing aids will improve communication, safety, and performance — all while making your workout more enjoyable.
If you’re looking for the best hearing aids for athletes, have questions about caring for your devices during physical activity, or need a hearing test, our experienced audiologists have you covered.
Book an appointment at our hearing clinic in Ontario today, and we’ll help you find the right solution for your active lifestyle!