If you wear hearing aids, you know they are constantly exposed to moisture, wax and other foreign materials. Like many other high tech devices, exposure to these elements and conditions can understandably tear down and eventually interfere with the function of the device. These issues may arise much earlier for hearing aid wearers with more active lifestyles.
Therefore, nearly all hearing aids today feature technology that resists moisture — delaying or avoiding its detrimental effects. This technology is called a “nano coating.”
Nano coatings modeled after nature
Here at Starkey, we have engineered an invisible, proprietary nano coating called Surface™ Nanoshield. Derived from the lotus plant, which pushes out water droplets to carry dirt off it’s leaves, Surface Nanoshield controls the surface’s interaction with sweat, moisture, earwax, oils and other fluids, aiding to repel these substances from sticking to or entering the hearing aid.
Why is this important? While not the most glamorous subject to talk about, your ears are host to numerous fluids such as wax, sweat, dirt and even water, depending on the weather. Having our nano coating on your hearing aids is vital to the life of these important devices.
Of course, direct contact with fluids is never recommended for hearing aids — do not shower or swim with your hearing aids. But some contact is unavoidable. Summer months and time spent at the gym may cause your body to sweat. Surface Nanoshield is both hydrophobic (water resistant) and oleophobic (oil repellent), meaning that it protects your hearing aids from water, sweat and wax.
Rigorously tested for lasting durability
Starkey has tested the Surface Nanoshield using a salt fog test, which is widely used in the consumer electronic industry. Hearing aids that feature this Surface Nanoshield are placed in a salt fog environment for 48 hours at a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius to simulate how they may perform long term in a humid and sweaty environment. This is followed by 48 hours of drying time. Surface Nanoshield consistently excels in this aggressive test, ensuring it will deliver the protection and reliability you want and need.
Hear Clear earwax protection system
Along with the Surface Nanoshield, Starkey hearing aids also feature an innovative earwax protection system called Hear Clear. Hear Clear uses disposable wax guards that prevent earwax from building up in the receiver of the hearing aid. To see it in action, check out our how-to videos. Select the “wax protection” section on our hearing aid how to videos page, and select your hearing aid style.
Proper maintenance and cleaning is important to the longevity of your hearing aids. Along with that you can feel confident knowing that every Starkey hearing aid comes with the protective technology required to keep you hearing better all day, every day.
To try one of our durable hearing aids, book an appointment with a local hearing professional. Call (888) 919-6824 or click here.