Waterproof Hearing Aids

• Oct 3, 2012

Waterproof Hearing Aids

Updated Jan 2024

Phonak announce first waterproof rechargeable hearing aid

This is great for hearing aid wearers who get nervous around swimming pools or accidentally jump under the shower with hearing aids on. Even rain can cause issues with some hearing aids.

Now available Phonak Audeo Life $2500 below RRP

Features of Phonak Life

•   Waterproof*
•   Sweatproof
•   Health data tracking**
•   Rechargeable
•   Crisp natural sound
•   Empowering smart apps
•   Universal connectivity to smartphones, TV, Roger and more
•   Multiple Bluetooth® connections
•   Tap Control for easy access to Bluetooth capabilities

Video about Phonak Life Waterproof Hearing Aid

2024: Starkey Genesis AI is Waterproof

Starkeys Genesis AI rechargeable hearing aids are waterproof to level IP68 +

The following tests were made-:

•   Humidity Test
•   Salt Mist Test
•   Rain Spray Test
•   Targted Sweat Drip Test
•   Extended Reliability Testing
•   Salt Brine Immersion Test

The notion of waterproof hearing aids arrived with Siemens Aquaris (501 and 701) in 2012.

That hearing aid is no longer produced.

So the short story for athletes or people constantly in or around water is there is no hearing aid that is "waterproof". There are hearing aids that have water resistent ratings.

Modern hearing aids have IPX ratings (IP is the Ingress Protection or International Protection rating system), making them extremely resistent to water and dust.

 

IPX Ratings for Waterproof Hearing Aids

Take the leading Phonak Lumity Hearing Aid (arguably one of the best on the market).

It too has an IP68 (Ingress Protection) rating - the first number 6 is the level of dust protection which is dust proof and the the second number, 8 is the level of water or moisture protection. (it could withstand up to 30 min in a metre of water.)

The Phonak Audeo Paradise Life has been extensively tested beyond the normal IP68 rating to withstand submersion in not just fresh water, but also salt water and pool water at depths of up to 50 cm or 1.64 feet.

Solid Protection

IP Code	Protection
1	Protection from contact with any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part
2	Protection from fingers or similar objects
3	Protection from tools, thick wires or similar objects
4	Protection from most wires, screws or similar objects
5	Partial protection from contact with harmful dust
6	Protection from contact with harmful dust

Moisture Protection

IP Code	Protection
1	Protection against vertically dripping water
2	Protection against vertically dripping water when device is tilted at an angle up to 15 degrees
3	Protection against direct sprays of water when device is tilted at an angle up to 60 degrees
4	Protection from sprays and splashing of water in all directions
5	Protection from low-pressure water projected from a nozzle with a 6.3mm diameter opening in any direction
6	Protection from water projected in powerful jets from a nozzle with a 12.5mm diameter opening in any direction
7	Protected from immersion in water with a depth of up to 1 metre (or 3.3 feet) for up to 30 mins
8	Protected from immersion in water with a depth of more than 1 metre (manufacturer must specify exact depth)

• Hearing Aids
• Waterproof