If your rechargeable hearing aids get wet, remove them from the water immediately and wipe the exterior with a dry cloth or tissue. Speed matters more than technique here. The longer moisture sits inside the device, the greater the chance of damage to the electronics or battery components. Once you’ve dried the outside, you need to draw moisture out of the interior, and the method you use makes a real difference.
First Steps After Water Exposure
Start by wiping down every surface you can reach. A soft, dry cloth or tissue works fine. Pay attention to the charging contacts, microphone ports, and any seams where water could pool. With rechargeable models, you can’t pop out the battery like you could with older hearing aids, so your focus should be on getting moisture away from any openings.
Do not turn the hearing aids on to test them right away. Powering up wet electronics can cause a short circuit. Let them dry completely first, even if you’re anxious to check whether they still work. If the devices were powered on when they got wet, turn them off.
How to Dry Them Properly
You have a few options depending on what’s available at home. The best choice is a dedicated hearing aid dryer, which comes in two forms: drying jars that use moisture-absorbing silica gel beads, and electric dryers that plug into a wall outlet. Electric dryers are generally more effective, but the jars are portable and don’t need power. Some rechargeable hearing aid charging cases double as dehumidifiers, so check your manual to see if yours has that function. If it does, placing the aids in the charging case may handle both drying and charging.
If you don’t have a commercial drying product on hand, uncooked white rice is a reasonable backup. A study comparing commercial silica gel desiccants with white rice found that rice was statistically similar to several commercial products in pulling moisture from hearing aids. The most effective product in that study was a commercial silica gel desiccant, but rice performed well enough to be a useful alternative in a pinch. Place the hearing aids in a sealed container or bag filled with rice and leave them overnight.
Leave the hearing aids in whatever drying environment you choose for at least 8 to 12 hours. Overnight is ideal. Resist the urge to check on them every hour.
What Not to Do
The most common mistake people make is reaching for a hair dryer. Hearing aids are designed to operate in temperatures between roughly -13°F and 158°F, but concentrated heat from a blow dryer can exceed that upper limit quickly, especially on a high setting held close to the device. That kind of direct heat can warp plastic components, damage the rechargeable battery, or compromise the internal sealant that protects the electronics.
Never put hearing aids in a microwave, conventional oven, or on a radiator. These methods create temperatures far beyond what any hearing aid can tolerate. Direct sunlight on a hot day can also push temperatures higher than you’d expect, particularly on a dark dashboard.
What Your Hearing Aid’s Water Rating Actually Means
Most modern rechargeable hearing aids carry an IP67 or IP68 rating. That two-digit number tells you exactly how much water exposure the device is engineered to survive.
- IP67 means the hearing aid can withstand temporary immersion in water up to about 3 feet (1 meter) deep for up to 30 minutes.
- IP68 means it can handle continuous submersion at 3 feet or deeper, though the exact depth and time limits vary by manufacturer.
These ratings cover freshwater immersion under controlled conditions. They don’t account for soapy water, chlorinated pool water, saltwater, or the pressure of a shower stream hitting the device directly. Soap and chemicals can degrade the seals over time, and water pressure from a faucet or showerhead can force moisture past gaskets that would hold up fine during a calm dip. So even if your hearing aids are rated IP68, treating water exposure seriously is still the right move.
It’s also worth knowing that water resistance degrades over time. The seals and gaskets that keep moisture out wear down with daily use, temperature changes, and normal handling. A two-year-old hearing aid with an IP68 rating may not perform the same as it did out of the box.
When to Visit Your Audiologist
If your hearing aids still sound muffled, distorted, or won’t power on after a full drying cycle, bring them to your audiologist or hearing aid provider. Clinics have professional-grade equipment that goes beyond what you can do at home: vacuum chambers that displace trapped moisture from inside the device, plus specialized tools that clear wax and debris from receiver tubes and microphone ports using suction and pressurized air. A professional drying cycle takes only a few minutes and can often save hearing aids that seem dead after water exposure.
Even if your devices seem fine after drying, it’s worth mentioning the incident at your next appointment. Residual moisture that doesn’t cause immediate problems can lead to corrosion on internal components over weeks or months, and your provider can inspect for early signs of damage before it becomes irreversible.
Preventing Future Water Damage
The simplest prevention step is building a consistent removal habit. Take your hearing aids out before showering, swimming, or any activity where water exposure is likely. Keep a designated spot near the bathroom or pool area where you always place them.
Daily use of a drying jar or electric dryer, even when your hearing aids haven’t gotten wet, extends their lifespan significantly. Sweat, humidity, and condensation introduce small amounts of moisture every day. Running your hearing aids through a drying cycle each night keeps that moisture from accumulating inside the device. Many people make this part of their bedtime routine: hearing aids come out and go into the dryer or dehumidifying charging case.
If you exercise regularly or live in a humid climate, consider a hearing aid sweatband or sleeve. These fabric covers wrap around behind-the-ear models and absorb perspiration before it reaches the device’s openings. They’re inexpensive and washable.