I don’t know about you, but my neck of the woods can be very humid in the summer. This particular season has seemed extra hot and humid. All the moisture all the time has really reinforced the importance of drying my hearing device.

When I got my first bone anchored hearing aid almost ten years ago, my audiologist told me that the best thing I could do for the device was to dry it every night. I took her words to heart, immediately purchasing a Westone Hearing Aid Saver. This $10 hearing aid dryer is simple but works. It has a little container of dessicant beads in it. They change color over time as they absorb moisture. Then you microwave the dessicant (following the instructions) to renew it. After a while, months or so, the dessicant wears out, and you need to replace it. Link for the Westone Hearing Aid Saver here: https://a.co/d/2BXvWGt

I stored my bone anchored device in the Westone Hearing Aid Saver every night to dry it. I literally had zero issues with the functionality of my device. I kept my first bone anchored device model nine years. I did have 2 devices, each about 4.5 years, as I knocked my first device to the ground and shattered it (which I have since solved with a cute retention chain and cuff from thehearclip.com). When I went in to get my new device, my audiologist said she had never seen such an old device in such great condition. I believe that was in part because I dried it nightly.

I have recently been learning a lot about other hearing aid dryers. I looked at many different models in many different price points. It literally spans from $10 to thousands. I felt very overwhelmed trying to figure out if what I was doing was best. I watched this video, which I found helpful and interesting.

In the end, everyone kept referencing how Redux was the gold standard. The audiologist who works for my hearing aid company said she wished everyone could own one. I read the Soundtrack of Silence by Matt Hay, and he shared how a Redux literally brought his device back from a watery grave. I watched the video to test hearing aid dryers from Dr Cliff, and he used a Redux to do the test. Over and over, everyone said it was the best.

Now a Redux is spendy. But when I was thinking of how I can prolong the life and peak performance of my hearing aid, that is worth a lot to me. Also, having the ability to restore function in case of an accidental wetting like hopping in the shower or falling off into the lake would be almost miraculous. Just not being without my aid for a week or two for repairs is very valuable. Plus, knowing that I have this ability in my back pocket really lowers my anxiety. So I decided to splurge and get one on Prime Day when it was on sale for $300. Compared to the expense of a hearing device, that is actually fairly economical. https://a.co/d/cKARI4G

So far, I like the Redux. It is easy to use and quiet. It has an app that shows how much water is removed. I was not too surprised that a good amount of fluid was removed the first time I used it. The hearing aid really did feel dry after. I have fortunately not had a significant wetting experience to test it with yet. I expect that to happen sooner rather than later, though, as my dad also has a cochlear implant, and more than one of his devices has fallen off while fishing. 😆

You know your lifestyle, and maybe a $10 model is a good fit for your life. Or perhaps you live in a super humid climate like Georgia, and a serious hearing aid dryer could be a game changer. I have definitely talked with folks whose aids wore out in months from moisture. Regardless, I do recommend doing something to keep your hearing aid in the best condition possible. Hearing aids are expensive, and we are going to have a relationship with these devices for the long haul. It’s worth it to take care of them.