Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die faster than they should? There are several reasons why this might be occurring that may be surprising.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery last? The typical hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days.
That’s a very wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You might be on day 4 at the grocery store. All of a sudden, you can’t hear anything. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. All of a sudden, you can’t hear the conversation and it’s leaving you feeling rather alone.
Now, you’re at your grandson’s school play. And the children’s singing disappears. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, they even occasionally die after a couple of days.
It isn’t simply inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much juice you have left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 possible culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Moisture can drain a battery
Did you realize that humans are one of the few species that release moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling system. It also cleans the blood of excess toxins and sodium. Your battery could be exposed to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy setting.
The air vent in your device can become clogged by this extra moisture which can cause less efficient functionality. It can even interact with the chemicals that generate electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Here are a few steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- A dehumidifier is helpful
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for several days
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- Before going to bed, open the battery door
State-of-the-art hearing aid functions can run down batteries
Modern digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out only 10 years ago. But when these sophisticated features are being used, they can be a draw on battery power.
Don’t quit using your favorite features. But be aware that the battery will die faster if you spend all day streaming music from your phone to your hearing aids.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added features can drain your battery.
Batteries can be affected by altitude changes
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a rapid climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. When flying, skiing, or climbing remember to bring some spares.
Is the battery actually drained?
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be changed. These warnings, as a general rule, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re just a heads up. In addition, you may get a warning when the charge drops due to an altitude or humidity change.
Take out the hearing aids and reset them to quiet the alarm. You might be able to get several more hours or even days out of that battery.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
Wait until it’s time to use the battery before you pull off the protective tab. Hand oil or dirt can be an issue for batteries so wash up before you handle them. Keep your batteries out of the freezer. This might extend the life of other batteries but that’s not the case with hearing aid batteries.
Basic handling mistakes like these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
It’s often a practical financial choice to buy in bulk. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last few batteries likely won’t last as long. It can be a waste to purchase any more than a 6 month supply.
Buying hearing aid batteries from the internet
This isn’t a broad criticism of buying stuff online. You can get some really good deals. But some less honest individuals will sell batteries online that are very close to the expiration date. Or even worse, it has already gone by.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. When you purchase milk, you wouldn’t forget to look at the date it expires. You shouldn’t do that with batteries either. Make sure that the date is far enough in the future to get the most usage out of the pack.
If the website doesn’t state an expiration date, message the seller, or purchase batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid center where you can see it on the box. Make sure you look for reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a trustworthy source.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
Hearing aid batteries might drain more quickly for numerous reasons. But by taking little precautions you can get more power out of each battery. And if you’re considering an upgrade, consider rechargeable hearing aids. You put these hearing aids on a charger every night for an entire day of hearing tomorrow. Every few years, you will need to change the rechargeable batteries.