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Last Updated on April 14, 2025 by Alaina
Hearing aids are wonderful devices that can bring back the sounds and enable a person to interact with the environment again. But as far as exercising is concerned, they may seem more like exercise for your patience. From sweating and staining of clothes due to rigorous dancing to situations where the sound goes off, these are just some of the challenges of exercising with hearing aids.
Luckily, most of these challenges can be easily eliminated with knowledge of how to do so. Here are the issues you may experience and how to overcome them to remain fit and connected fully.
What Are the Challenges of Exercising with Hearing Aids?
One is likely to encounter a few challenges while exercising with hearing aids. Sweat is one factor. It can penetrate the hearing aids, distort sounds, or damage internal components. Exercise also puts pressure on hearing aids, which may shift, become loose, or fall off during vigorous exercise, causing you to pause in the middle of the exercise. Also, outdoor activities are associated with wind or background noise that hinders the clear reception of sound and interferes with concentration or relaying of information.
How to Overcome the Challenges
Choose Safe and Proper-Fitting Hearing Aids
Make sure that hearing aids are correctly fitted so that they do not move or fall off. It’s recommended that you wear a doctors hearing aid that is made to fit the specific shape of the ear or those with features that lock into the ear, such as hooks or clips, which is helpful when moving. You may also consider using headbands made explicitly for sports activities to hold the hearing aids.
Use Sweat-Resistant or Waterproof Hearing Aids
Sweat-resistant or waterproof hearing aids are intended to act as shields against humidity. They ensure that your hearing aids will not get damaged during rigorous exercises. If your hearing aids are not moisture-proof, then it is wise to use moisture protection accessories like covers or desiccant packs to protect them from moisture.
Adjust Hearing Aid Settings for Better Sound Quality
Environmental factors such as wind or other noise in the background can affect the sound clarity. Most hearing aids have features that can be customized, such as noise control or directional microphones. They allow the hearing aid to amplify specific sounds and minimize other sounds. These should be set before the workout to achieve the best possible clarity in your communication.
Wear Lightweight, Low-Profile Hearing Aids
To avoid discomfort during the exercises, opt for small and light hearing aids that will not cause any itchiness. Slimmer and less protruding models will be more comfortable for the head and other accessories, such as helmets or headbands.
Use Retention Clips and Accessories
In case of intensive exercise, it is advisable to use retention clips, moisture guards, or over-the-ear hooks. These accessories ensure that your hearing aids do not fall off or get wet during the exercise, as you do not need to keep fiddling with them.
Take Advantage of Rechargeable Hearing Aids
It is worth noting that hearing aid batteries tend to be depleted faster when used during exercises, especially when the environment is hot. Another type is the rechargeable hearing aids which can be charged at night and used the following day. You will not need to switch batteries during the workout and this results to a steady performance during the exercise.
Talk to Your Audiologist for Personalized Solutions
It is therefore important to understand that not all ears, or workouts, are the same. Speaking to your audiologist will help you determine the hearing aid style and accessories that will suit an active lifestyle. You can get help from a professional to adjust the settings, reduce noise, and make sure your hearing aids fit well for working out.
Why Exercising with Hearing Aids Is Worth It
People get self-conscious and conscious about working out when wearing hearing aids for the first time, they do not want to experience discomforts or fix a broken and costly equipment in the middle of their set regime. However, if done properly, wearing hearing aids during exercise can be beneficial and help improve your workout in several ways apart from improving your ability to hear.
Boosted Communication in Social Settings
Regardless of whether one is in a group exercise class, at the gym or exercising with a partner, it is extremely helpful to be able to hear. Wearing hearing aids when exercising makes it easier for you to engage in conversations with other people, follow instructions from trainers and other trainers, and be able to participate in group exercises, making workouts more sociable and fun.
Enhanced Safety and Awareness
When you’re working out, the setting really matters, especially if you’re outside. Hearing aids will enable you to be aware of your surroundings, for example, a bike approaching from behind, a car approaching the road, or an announcement made at the gym. This makes your workouts not only better but also safer since you are well aware of the body’s ability and limitations.
Improved Overall Health and Well-being
Physical activity helps in maintaining a good weight, improves circulation and prevents conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure among others. Exercise has other benefits as well; the benefits include boosting of mood, reduction of stress, and increased mental ability. When hearing aids are comfortable and enable you to hear well, you will be motivated to continue with your exercise regimen and enjoy the benefits that come with it.
Increased Confidence and Independence
Wearing hearing aids during exercises is beneficial because it enables you to go through the workouts on your own. This means that clear hearing improves confidence during group sessions and solo sessions, and thus, there is no need to rely on other people to help in the fitness regime.
It is quite possible to remain active when using hearing aids, and several ways can be adopted to ensure that the person using them remains active. You can exercise without endangering the ears by protecting your devices from sweat and adjusting them to overcome environmental factors. Pay attention to your body signals and be conscious of your hearing aids during your workouts to avoid fixing or replacing them in the middle of your exercise. Balance is essential for remaining physically fit and socially integrated.