What to do if your hearing aid gets wet

Today's hearing aids are so small there's the danger that you actually might forget you're wearing them. So what should you do if you're near a pool this summer and your hearing aid gets wet? Here's some advice from the nonprofit website Hear-it.org.

• Switch off your hearing aid immediately.
• Remove the battery from the hearing aid. Dry the battery meticulously with a clean cloth.
• Make sure the battery component is open, and then shake the hearing aid to remove all possible water.
  
• Place your hearing aid on a newspaper to dry out in a warm area for several hours with the battery compartment open.

Make sure you follow up with an inspection and cleaning with your hearing-care professional, says Carole Rogin, president of the Hearing Industries Association.

Even though some hearing aids are water resistant, it's best not to get them wet in the first place, adds Barbara E. Weinstein, Ph.D., a professor of audiology at City University of New York.

See our Hearing Aid Buying Guide for more information about the new hearing helpers and how to choose among them.