How Weather Impacts Your Hearing

With a little observation, you will realize slight changes in your hearing quality in different seasons throughout the year. People with hearing loss who rely on auditory aids may notice these changes quicker. And the type of change will depend on the season or weather. It would be safe to see the audiologist to clear any doubts you may have about your hearing when the weather changes. Below are a few changes you can expect during the different seasons of the year.

The Impact of Winter Months

The human body has a layer of fat whose main responsibility is to protect internal organs, nerves and bones from chilly weather. Unfortunately, human ears are not equipped with this fat layer, making them especially vulnerable to cold weather. The ears contain thousands of nerves that aid their proper functioning. For instance, when the ear perceives sound, 25,000 nerve endings are activated to convert it into electrical impulses.

In extreme situations, this may give rise to abnormal bone growth in the ear canal, interrupting the normal production and expelling of earwax. Research has shown that this is common among swimmers and those who fail to protect their ears in very cold weather. The risk of ear infections during winter is high.

Moreover, for people using hearing aids, your device’s performance may become problematic because of the impact of cold air on the batteries. Low temperatures drain hearing aid batteries. Additionally, the risk of condensation within your device is high and can destroy vital internal components. This is why you need the audiologist to check your hearing aids when the temperatures get significantly lower.

Spring and Autumn: How Your Ear Responds

Spring is a welcome season for many Americans after a long winter. The flowers bloom, and people enjoy the outdoors more as the days get longer. Apart from all the positivity attached to spring, it may not always hold good news for your ears. Research has shown that this season has the most respiratory allergy spikes.

This is because with flowers blooming, there are pollen grains in the atmosphere. Additionally, the barometric pressure changes can be too much for the ears during this season.

Stuffy or muffled ears can be resolved by yawning and swallowing to expel trapped air. If you wear hearing aids, the risk of clogging your device with earwax sharply increases in spring. This happens because your ear produces more wax as a protective mechanism against allergens. Wax can cause your hearing aids to malfunction, explaining why you should contact an audiologist when you have respiratory allergies.

The Summer Months

If you are like many Americans, summer is the most-awaited season all year. It is time for swimming at the beach or pool and wearing light, airy clothing. However, your ears may not take the excess warmth and increased infections from water activities well.

Among hearing aid wearers, moisture is not a welcome element. Apart from the excessive earwax buildup in the summer, moisture further clogs your devices. You can prevent this by taking better care of your hearing aids and keeping them as clean and dry as possible in the season. Better yet, booking an appointment with the audiologist can rule out further problems with your hearing aids.