Living on the Northern Beaches means you’re never far from the water. Whether it’s a quick dip at Freshwater or an afternoon at Manly, our coastal lifestyle is one of the region’s greatest pleasures. But if you wear hearing aids, that post-swim routine deserves just as much attention as rinsing the sand from your towel.
Salt, chlorine, sand and moisture pose genuine risks to the delicate electronics inside modern hearing aids. Left unchecked, they can compromise sound quality, shorten device lifespan and lead to expensive repairs. This article walks you through a practical, clinic-tested post-swim routine—what to do, what to avoid, and when it’s time to book a professional clean-and-check at The Audiology Place.
*Please note: this information is educational and does not replace personalised advice from your audiologist. If you have concerns about your hearing aids or experience sudden changes in performance, contact your clinician directly.*
Why saltwater and chlorine matter
Modern hearing aids are engineering marvels: microprocessors, microphones, receivers and batteries packed into a shell smaller than a cashew. But they weren’t designed to withstand immersion. Even brief exposure to saltwater or chlorinated pool water introduces corrosive elements that can penetrate seals, corrode circuitry and degrade acoustic components.
**Saltwater** leaves behind crystalline deposits as it evaporates. These tiny salt crystals can wedge into microphone ports, block sound tubes and create shorts across electronic contacts. The Northern Beaches’ iconic surf—beautiful as it is—carries suspended sand particles that act like microscopic abrasive agents when they dry inside your device.
**Chlorine**, meanwhile, accelerates corrosion of metal components and can degrade the silicone seals that protect internal electronics. Public pools often maintain chlorine levels between 1–3 parts per million, enough to cause cumulative damage if moisture repeatedly enters your hearing aid casing.
Even if your devices carry an IP68 rating—the highest ingress protection standard for consumer hearing aids—manufacturers universally recommend removal before swimming. An IP68 rating means the device can withstand submersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for 30 minutes under laboratory conditions. Real-world ocean swells, saltwater chemistry and the physical turbulence of wave action fall well outside those parameters.
What *not* to do after a swim
Before we discuss best practice, let’s address the common mistakes we see at our Dee Why clinic—well-meaning attempts that can inadvertently cause more harm than good.
**Do not use a hairdryer, even on a cool setting.** The airflow can force moisture deeper into the hearing aid’s internal chambers, and even “cool” settings may exceed the device’s thermal tolerance. Hearing aid electronics are designed to operate within a narrow temperature range; forced air introduces uncontrolled heat and turbulence.
**Do not place hearing aids in direct sunlight or on a hot dashboard.** While you might think evaporation will help, excessive heat can warp plastic casings, melt adhesive bonds and damage the lithium-ion cells in rechargeable models.
**Do not insert hearing aids into uncooked rice.** This old smartphone remedy has been largely debunked. Rice grains can shed dust and starch particles that clog microphone ports. More importantly, rice does nothing to neutralise salt or chlorine—it merely absorbs some moisture, leaving corrosive residues behind.
**Do not attempt to rinse hearing aids under a tap.** Paradoxically, adding more water—even fresh water—while the device is still wet can drive existing moisture further into the electronics. If saltwater has entered the casing, a superficial rinse won’t reach it.
**Do not skip your routine even if the devices “seem fine.”** Corrosion and salt crystal accumulation are insidious. By the time you notice distorted sound or intermittent function, damage may already be advanced.
Your post-swim routine: practical steps
A consistent, methodical approach after every beach or pool visit will dramatically extend your hearing aids’ lifespan and maintain optimal performance. Here’s the routine we recommend to Northern Beaches patients at The Audiology Place.
### 1. Remove hearing aids *before* entering the water
This seems obvious, but it’s worth stating explicitly. Even water-resistant devices should be removed. Store them in a protective case—ideally a hard-shell case kept in the shade or inside your beach bag, well away from towels that might be damp or sandy.
### 2. Dry your ears thoroughly before reinserting devices
Use a soft, clean towel to dry the outer ear and the bowl of the concha. Tilt your head to each side to help water drain from the ear canal. If you’ve been body-surfing or diving, you may have trapped water deeper in the canal; allow 10–15 minutes for this to evaporate naturally before reinserting your hearing aids. Residual moisture in the ear canal can wick into the hearing aid once it’s reinserted, even if the device itself stayed dry.
### 3. Inspect your hearing aids before reinserting
Check for visible sand, salt residue or moisture on the surface. Open the battery door (for battery-powered models) or switch the device off (for rechargeable models). Gently wipe the exterior with a clean, dry microfibre cloth—avoid tissues, as they can leave lint in ports.
### 4. Use a hearing aid dehumidifier overnight
Electric dehumidifiers or desiccant-based drying kits are your first line of defence. Place your hearing aids in the dehumidifier every night during summer, and especially after any beach or pool exposure. These devices gently draw moisture out of the hearing aid casing without applying heat or airflow that could cause further damage. If you use a desiccant jar, replace the desiccant crystals regularly—they lose effectiveness once saturated.
### 5. Change wax guards and domes as needed
Sand and salt can compromise the integrity of wax guards (the small filters that protect the receiver) and silicone domes. If you notice reduced volume or muffled sound after a swim, a clogged wax guard is a likely culprit. Most patients can change these components at home; your audiologist will have shown you how during your fitting appointment. If you’re uncertain, don’t force it—book a quick appointment instead.
A note on swim sleeves and waterproof plugs
Some patients ask whether swim sleeves—neoprene or silicone covers designed to shield behind-the-ear hearing aids—provide adequate protection. The evidence is mixed. While these accessories offer a degree of splash resistance for activities like kayaking or paddle-boarding, they are not designed for full immersion and do not replace proper water-avoidance protocols.
Similarly, waterproof earplugs can protect your ear canals during swimming, but they won’t safeguard your hearing aids. If you wish to wear custom swim plugs to prevent surfer’s ear or reduce the risk of ear infections, that’s an excellent idea—but always remove your hearing aids first.
For patients who want to remain connected to the world while swimming, bone-conduction headphones or waterproof cochlear implant processors (where applicable) may be worth discussing with your audiologist. But standard hearing aids, regardless of IP rating, should never accompany you into the surf.
When to book a professional clean-and-check
Even with a diligent home routine, professional maintenance is essential. At The Audiology Place, we recommend a clean-and-check appointment every three to six months for Northern Beaches patients—more frequently if you swim regularly or live right on the coast where salt air accelerates wear.
**Book an appointment sooner if you notice:**
– Intermittent sound or unexpected dropouts
– Distorted or “tinny” sound quality
– Visible corrosion (white, green or brown discolouration) around the battery contacts or sound tube
– Physical damage to the casing, such as cracks or separated seams
– Reduced battery life or charging issues
– Persistent whistling (feedback) that wasn’t present before
During a clean-and-check, your audiologist will use specialised tools—vacuum systems, ultrasonic cleaners and probe microphones—to remove debris that home cleaning can’t reach. We’ll inspect seals, test microphone and receiver function, and perform Real Ear Measurement (REM) to verify that your hearing aids are still delivering the prescribed amplification. REM involves placing a tiny probe microphone in your ear canal while you wear your hearing aids; it measures the actual sound pressure level at your eardrum, ensuring the device is programmed correctly for your unique ear anatomy and hearing loss.
This verification step is especially important after moisture exposure, because even minor component degradation can shift the device’s frequency response. A hearing aid that “works” may no longer be providing optimal speech clarity if its internal components have been compromised.
Red flags: when to seek urgent care
While most post-swim hearing aid issues are manageable with routine care, certain symptoms warrant prompt attention—not just for your devices, but for your ears themselves.
**Contact your GP or an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist if you experience:**
– Sudden hearing loss or significant worsening of hearing in one or both ears
– Persistent ear pain or discharge
– Vertigo, dizziness or balance disturbances after swimming
– A feeling of fullness or pressure that doesn’t resolve within 24 hours
These symptoms may indicate an outer ear infection (otitis externa, commonly known as swimmer’s ear), a perforated eardrum or impacted cerumen (earwax) that has swollen with water exposure. Your audiologist can perform tympanometry—a quick test that measures eardrum movement and middle ear pressure—to help identify certain conditions, but definitive diagnosis and treatment fall within the scope of medical practitioners.
At The Audiology Place, we maintain strong referral networks with local GPs and ENT specialists throughout the Northern Beaches. If we identify a concern during your appointment, we’ll ensure you’re connected with the appropriate medical care without delay.
Independence, transparency and your follow-up care
The Audiology Place operates as a brand-agnostic clinic. We fit and service hearing aids from all major manufacturers, and our recommendations are guided by your hearing profile, lifestyle needs and budget—not by commercial relationships or sales targets. Whether your devices were fitted here or elsewhere, we’re equipped to provide cleaning, maintenance and verification services.
We also recognise the limits of what we can address remotely. While teleaudiology has expanded access to care, moisture damage and physical cleaning require in-person assessment. If you contact us after a beach incident, we may recommend an in-clinic appointment rather than a virtual consultation, simply because some issues can’t be diagnosed or resolved via video call.
Our approach is collaborative. We’ll explain what we find, show you the condition of your devices (often under magnification), discuss your options and provide transparent pricing before proceeding with any repairs or replacements. If your devices are under warranty or manufacturer care plan, we’ll guide you through that process; if not, we’ll outline the most cost-effective path forward.
Living well with hearing aids on the Northern Beaches
Your hearing aids are an investment—in communication, safety, social connection and quality of life. With a little extra care after your ocean swims and pool laps, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the Northern Beaches lifestyle to its fullest while protecting that investment.
Establish your post-swim routine, use a dehumidifier consistently and don’t hesitate to book a professional clean-and-check when you need one. Your future self—and your hearing aids—will thank you.
If you have questions about moisture care, device maintenance or suspect your hearing aids need attention after beach exposure, contact The Audiology Place in Dee Why. We’re here to help you hear well, even when life gets sandy.
