Whether you’re shooting hoops, going for a jog or running bases, you can (and should) wear your hearing aids. Doing so allows you to connect to your surroundings and communicate effectively with your teammates and coaches. You’ll also have better spatial awareness, which is crucial when playing a contact sport.
The Importance of Wearing Hearing Aids During Sports
Many sports rely on calls, whistles and other auditory cues to signal plays during a game. You’re less likely to miss those crucial details if you wear your devices during sports and prevent errors that could cost you the game. Communication is essential for strategizing, so don’t risk miscommunications by forgetting your hearing aids at home.
You won’t have to strain to hear during sports, enhancing your reaction time and overall performance. Hearing well also supports quality socialization, whether you’re playing a round of golf or battling it out on a tennis court.
Tips for Protecting Your Hearing Aids
Choose the Right Device
Certain hearing aid styles are better suited to handle the motion and impact that often accompanies sports. In-the-ear and in-the-canal devices may be better options than behind-the-ear styles because they fit snugly in your ear. External hearing aid components are at greater risk of getting dislodged or damaged during play.
It’s also important to consider features and settings that reduce background noise, so you can focus on the sounds you want to hear. Verify your devices fit properly to reduce the risk of losing them during sports. A headband or sports clips are effective options for securing your hearing aids.
Prevent Moisture Damage
Talk with your audiologist to determine your hearing aid’s IP rating, as that indicates their resistance to dust and moisture. IP67 and IP68 offer higher moisture resistance, so you may consider hearing aids with those ratings if you play in damp environments or sweat heavily during sports.
A hearing aid sleeve or sweatband will absorb excess moisture and protect external components in behind-the-ear and receiver-in-the-ear models. It’s also crucial to clean and dry your hearing aids regularly if you wear them while playing a sport. Place your hearing aids in a drying box or dehumidifier to remove water and sweat and disinfect the hardware.
Adjust Your Setting for Optimal Performance
Most hearing aids have customizable settings that you can preset and change based on your listening environment. You may face increased wind noise and multiple sound sources during games, matches and physical activity. Some devices offer “sport mode” to improve speech clarity and control environmental sounds.
Directional microphones also come in handy if you play a sport, as they help your devices focus on sounds in front of you. You can pair your hearing aid to sports apps, headsets and coaching devices via Bluetooth, too.
Practice Good Communication with Your Team
Improved speech recognition in noisy settings allows you to understand instructions from coaches and officials. It’s also essential for communicating with your teammates to coordinate plays and work together. That boosts your sense of inclusion and engagement during sports.
Here are some communication strategies to consider:
- Discuss your hearing needs and inclusive communication strategies to promote effective conversations.
- Use visual and hand cues to communicate clearly.
- Position yourself in front of your coaches or teammates when they’re speaking.
- Ask others to avoid covering their mouths when talking.
Find the Right Hearing Aids for an Active Lifestyle
Are you looking for hearing aids to wear during your daily jog or weekly pickup game? Come to Hearing Associates and our expert team will help you find the right devices to suit your lifestyle. Call 888-760-2032 or schedule your appointment online.