Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die faster than they ought to? Here are a few surprising reasons that may happen.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The ordinary hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days.
That range is rather wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament.
You may be at market on day 4. Suddenly, things get quiet. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or, you’re out for lunch with friends on day 5. All of a sudden, you can’t follow the discussion and it’s leaving you feeling rather alone.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. And the children’s singing disappears. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, they even sometimes drain after a couple of days.
It’s more than inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much juice you have left in your hearing aids.
If your hearing aid batteries drain too quickly, check out these seven possible culprits.
Your Battery can be killed by moisture
Did you know that human beings are one of the few species that release moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling system. You do it to get rid of extra sodium or toxins in the blood. Your battery may be subjected to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy place.
This excess moisture can clog up the air vent in your device, making hearing aids less efficient. It can even kill the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that make electricity.
Here are several steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for a prolonged period of time, remove the batteries
- Open the battery door before storing the hearing aids
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- Use a dehumidifier
Advanced modern features are power intensive
Even 10 years ago, hearing aids were a lot less helpful for individuals with hearing loss than current devices. But when these advanced functions are being used, they can be a draw on battery power.
That doesn’t mean you should stop using these amazing features. But just know that if you stream music for hours from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to change the battery sooner.
All these extra features, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery faster.
Batteries can be affected by altitude changes
Your batteries can be quickly depleted when you have a rapid climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is especially true. When flying, skiing, or climbing always takes some spares.
Is the battery actually drained?
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is getting low. As a general rule, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. Additionally, you may get a warning when the charge drops because of 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 from that battery.
Handling the batteries improperly
Wait until it’s time to use the battery before you remove the protective tab. Make sure you wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries so you don’t get hand oil or dirt on them. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. It doesn’t increase their life as it might with other kinds of batteries.
Hearing aids will drain faster if you mishandle them in these ways.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
Buying in bulk is usually a smart money choice when you can afford to do it. But you can anticipate that the last several batteries in the pack won’t last as long. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with the waste.
internet battery vendors
We’re not saying it’s always a bad idea to purchase things on the internet. You can find a lot of bargains. But some less scrupulous people will sell batteries online that are very near to the expiration date. Or 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 check the expiration date. You shouldn’t do that with batteries either. If you want to get the most out of your battery, make sure the date is well into the future.
If you purchase your batteries at a hearing aid store or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the labeling, but if you’re going to shop on the internet make sure the seller states when the batteries will expire. Make sure you check reviews to be certain you’re buying from a trustworthy source.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries could drain quickly. But you can get more energy from each battery by taking small precautions. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re in the market for a new pair. You dock these hearing aids on a charger every night for an entire day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only have to be swapped out every few years.