Springtime in Michigan comes with a lot to look forward to, and a fair amount of pollen that tends to get into everything. For hearing aid wearers, that kind of seasonal buildup has a way of becoming a real problem before you realize it’s happening.

Pollen, dust and the general grime that comes with spending more time outside can work their way into the small openings and components of your devices. These issues often remain hidden until the device stops performing correctly.

The thing about hearing aids is that they sit right in the middle of everything your environment throws at you all day long. During pollen season, that exposure adds up faster than it does in the winter months when you’re mostly indoors.

A device that seemed fine in February might need a lot more attention by May, not because anything is wrong with it, but because the conditions it’s operating in have changed considerably.

How Allergy Season Can Affect the Performance of Hearing Aids

Pollen doesn’t just affect your sinuses. If you wear hearing aids, it can settle into the microphone ports and vents of your devices and start muffling sound in ways that are easy to mistake for a hearing change rather than a maintenance issue.

Beyond the sound quality, pollen and the moisture it tends to travel with can make wearing your devices less comfortable throughout the day.

That sticky, irritated feeling around your ears during allergy season is uncomfortable on its own. When debris also gets into your devices, it can start affecting how well they work.

How Particles Settle on Your Hearing Aid Surfaces

Pollen grains are a lot smaller than what you see collecting on your car or porch. Individual particles are light enough to travel through the air and small enough to settle into the tiny gaps and openings of your hearing aids without you ever noticing it happening.

On a windy day in particular, dust and pollen get pushed into microphone ports and around buttons and tend to stick there because of their texture and the natural oils already on your skin.

A lot of the transfer also happens through your own hands. Every time you reach up to adjust your hearing aid after being outside, you’re moving whatever was on your fingers or in your hair directly onto your devices.

Spotting and Managing Buildup on Your Hearing Aids

Living in Michigan during the spring means dealing with a thick layer of yellow dust on almost everything you own. While you might notice it on your car windshield right away, that same fine powder settles into the small openings of your hearing aids.

This buildup often creates a frustrating barrier between you and the sounds you want to hear.

You can often tell something is wrong just by the way the devices feel against your skin or how the world sounds around you. Taking a moment each evening to check for these specific physical and sound-related signs can help:

Muffled or distant voices: Speech starts to sound fuzzy or like people are speaking from another room, even when they are standing right next to you.
Sticky film on the casing: The surface of the device feels tacky to the touch or shows a visible coating of fine yellow dust.
Physical itching or irritation: Pollen trapped against your ear can cause a scratchy sensation or mild redness throughout the day.
Intermittent crackling: Small particles drifting into the ports can cause sudden popping or static sounds that come and go.

Effective Ways to Clean Wax Guards and Domes During Spring

Pollen doesn’t just sit on the outside of your devices; it loves to mix with earwax to create a stubborn, tacky buildup on your wax guards and domes. This combination can quickly clog the tiny openings that allow sound to travel into your ear canal.

When these parts get congested, you might feel like your hearing aids have stopped working entirely or that the volume has been turned down.

You can keep your listening experience consistent by following these maintenance steps:

Inspect the wax guard: Look at the small filter at the end of the receiver to see if the holes are filled with a yellowish or brown substance.
Wipe the domes daily: Use a dry, lint-free tissue to remove any surface debris from the silicone dome every time you take the devices out of your ears.
Replace when muffled: Swap out the wax guard immediately if your hearing aids sound quiet even after you have cleaned the microphone ports.
Check for debris under the dome: Gently pull back the silicone tip to see if any dust or grit has managed to sneak underneath it and near the speaker.

Establishing an Evening Cleaning and Storage Routine

Establishing a consistent nightly routine is the best way to prevent allergens from moving from the surface of your hearing aids into the delicate internal parts.

Since these tiny particles are often invisible, they can accumulate quickly and create a layer of grit that affects how the buttons move and how the microphones pick up sound.

Proper storage is the second half of this routine and acts as a vital shield against airborne allergens that settle while you sleep. You can maintain a much cleaner device and more consistent sound quality by following these nightly steps:

Wipe the exterior: Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to gently rub down the entire casing and remove any film or dust gathered from the air.
Brush the ports: Hold the device upside down and use a small cleaning brush to flick away any particles sitting on the microphone openings.
Open the battery door: If your devices use disposable batteries, leave the door open to allow air to circulate and moisture to evaporate.
Use a drying kit: Place the hearing aids inside a dehumidifier or a closed container with a desiccant puck to ensure they stay dry and protected.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Hearing Aids After Exposure

One of the most frequent errors people make is reaching for water or household cleaning sprays to wipe away a layer of sticky pollen. While it might seem like a quick way to get the casing clean, liquid is the natural enemy of the sensitive microphones and receivers inside.

When moisture mixes with allergens, it can form a thick buildup that blocks the small openings and affects sound. It is safer to use a dry, soft cloth or a small brush to remove debris without pushing it deeper inside.

Another mistake is trying to use sharp objects like needles, safety pins or toothpicks to dig out stubborn debris from the microphone ports. These openings are covered by incredibly delicate filters that can be punctured or pushed out of place with very little pressure.

If you notice a blockage that won’t budge with a soft brush, it is better to seek professional help rather than risk a permanent hole in the protective screen.

Many people overlook the battery compartment, assuming pollen cannot get inside. In reality, fine particles can settle around the hinge and reach the contacts, which can cause poor connections and make the device cut in and out.

How Your Audiologist Can Help You Maintain Devices in Spring

Your audiologist can help when dust and debris build up more than you can handle at home. Daily cleaning helps, but professional tools can reach deeper inside to remove small debris you might miss.

A quick visit for cleaning can improve how your devices sound and remove hidden buildup that may strain the microphones. These checkups also let your provider check the seals and filters that help keep debris out of the sensitive electronics.

Beyond deep cleaning, an audiologist can help you adjust your settings to better handle the unique challenges of springtime. If your ears feel full or congested due to allergies, it can change the way you perceive sound, making your usual volume levels feel inadequate.

Your audiologist can fine-tune your devices to compensate for this temporary change or suggest different styles of domes and wax guards that are more resistant to sticky buildup.

Staying Comfortable During Allergy Season

A little consistency goes a long way this time of year. You don’t need a complicated routine or a lot of extra time; you just need to be a bit more intentional about cleaning when spring rolls around.

Most hearing aid problems that come through our door in the spring could have been avoided with about two extra minutes of attention each evening.

The team at Huron Valley Hearing in Highland, MI is happy to walk you through what a good seasonal maintenance routine looks like for your specific devices. Give us a call at (810) 206-0319, and we’ll make sure you’re heading into the warmer months in good shape.

How to Clean Hearing Aids Safely During Pollen Season