Wearing Hearing Aids During Exercise: What Edmonton Athletes Should Know

One of the most common questions new hearing aid users ask is whether they can wear their devices during exercise. The short answer is yes. Modern hearing aids are designed to handle daily life, and daily life includes movement.

That said, sweat, impact, and gravity all pose minor risks that are easy to manage once you know what to watch for.

Sweat is the main concern

Hearing aids are not waterproof. Most current models carry an IP68 rating, which means they can handle brief submersion in fresh water, but sweat is different. Sweat contains salt, which is more corrosive than plain water, and it reaches the hearing aids continuously during a long workout rather than in a single splash.

For light exercise like walking, yoga, or stretching, sweat is rarely an issue. For anything that gets you genuinely sweating, a few precautions go a long way:

Use a hearing aid sweatband or sleeve. These are thin fabric covers that slip over behind-the-ear hearing aids. They absorb sweat before it reaches the microphone ports and battery compartment. They cost about ten to fifteen dollars and are washable.

Dry them immediately after exercise. When your workout is done, wipe your hearing aids with a dry cloth and place them in a drying kit. If you exercise daily, an electronic dryer with UV sanitization is a worthwhile investment.

Avoid touching them with sweaty hands. If you need to adjust them mid-workout, wipe your hands on a towel first. Salt residue on the controls and microphone ports builds up over time.

Impact sports and hearing aids

Contact sports like hockey, football, rugby, and boxing create a real risk of hearing aids being knocked out or damaged. For these activities, most audiologists recommend removing your hearing aids and storing them in a hard case during play.

If you need to hear coaches or teammates during practice, sport-specific retention clips or helmet-compatible hearing aid accessories can help. Ask your audiologist about options for your specific sport.

For non-contact sports like running, cycling, tennis, golf, and weight training, hearing aids stay in without issue. A retention clip or sport lock, a small plastic hook that wraps around the back of the ear, adds extra security if you are worried about them falling out during high-movement activities.

Running and cycling in Edmonton

Edmonton’s river valley trails and road cycling routes are popular year-round. Hearing aids are an advantage here, not a liability. Being able to hear traffic, other cyclists calling out passes, and approaching runners makes outdoor exercise safer.

For cold-weather running or cycling, hearing aids benefit from the same moisture management you would use indoors. The combination of sweat underneath a toque or headband and cold air outside creates condensation. An overnight drying cycle handles this, but be aware that winter exercise demands a bit more attention to moisture than summer workouts.

Wind noise can be an issue during cycling. Many hearing aids have a wind noise reduction program that your audiologist can activate. If you cycle regularly, ask about this at your next appointment.

The gym

Weight training, group fitness classes, and cardio machines are all fine with hearing aids. In a gym environment, hearing aids actually help you follow instructor cues, hear safety warnings, and stay connected to the people around you.

A few tips for gym use:

Be careful with over-ear headphones. They can press against behind-the-ear hearing aids and cause feedback. If you want to listen to music, use the Bluetooth streaming built into your hearing aids instead of headphones, or use earbuds that fit around in-the-ear models.

Watch for impact during exercises. Movements where you lie on your side, like side planks or certain stretches, can press hearing aids against the floor or bench. Take them out for those specific exercises if they are uncomfortable.

Secure them during inversions. If you do yoga poses like headstands or shoulder stands, gravity works against you. A retention clip prevents them from sliding out.

Swimming and water sports

Remove your hearing aids before swimming. No exceptions. Even IP68-rated hearing aids are not designed for prolonged submersion, and chlorine and salt water accelerate corrosion.

Store them in a waterproof hard case at the pool or beach. If you need to hear in the water, waterproof swim plugs with integrated speakers exist, but they are a separate device from your hearing aids.

Hearing aids during winter sports

Edmonton is a winter city, and skiing, skating, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing are all part of life here. Hearing aids work fine in cold weather, but batteries drain faster in extreme cold. Rechargeable hearing aids handle this better than disposable battery models because the battery stays closer to body temperature inside the ear.

If you wear a helmet for skiing or hockey, make sure it fits over your hearing aids without pressing on them. A helmet that squeezes the hearing aid against your skull will cause discomfort and feedback. Most helmets accommodate hearing aids without modification, but try yours on with the aids in before buying.

When to take them out

There is no reason to avoid exercise because of hearing aids. But there are a few situations where removing them is the right call:

• Swimming, diving, or any full water immersion
• Full-contact sparring or competition in impact sports
• Sauna or steam room use
• Any situation where they could fall and be lost, like cliff jumping or open-water activities

For everything else, keep them in. Hearing your environment during exercise is safer and more enjoyable than working out in silence.

Getting sport-ready hearing aids in Edmonton

At Medicine Place Hearing Care, we fit hearing aids with active lifestyles in mind. We can set up sport-specific programs, recommend retention accessories, and make sure your devices are rated for the activities you love.

If sweat or moisture has been a concern, bring your hearing aids in for a professional cleaning and moisture check. We will make sure everything is working properly and advise on any additional protection you might need.

Book a hearing aid consultation at Medicine Place Hearing Care in Edmonton.