Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries die way too fast? There are several reasons why this may be taking place that might be unexpected.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? From 3 to 7 days is the typical period of time for charge to last.
That range is pretty wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You could be on day 4 at the supermarket store. Unexpectedly, things get quiet. The cashier is speaking to you but you don’t hear what they are saying.
Or it’s day 5. You’re appreciating a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer hear what your friends are saying.
Now, you’re at your grandchild’s school play. And the children’s singing disappears. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, they even sometimes drain after a couple of days.
It isn’t just inconvenient. You have no idea how much juice is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
If your hearing aid batteries drain too quickly, check out these seven possible culprits.
Your Battery can be drained by moisture
Releasing moisture through our skin is one thing that human beings do that most other species don’t. It’s a cooling system. You do it to get rid of excess sodium or toxins in the blood. Your battery could be exposed 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, affecting the hearing aid’s efficiency. It can even interact with the chemicals that produce electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Here are a few steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Open up the battery door before you store your hearing aids
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for several days
- Store your hearing aids in a place where moisture is minimum
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
Advanced hearing aid features can run down batteries
Even 10 years ago, hearing aids were much less helpful for individuals with hearing loss than current devices. But these added features can cause batteries to drain more quickly if you’re not paying attention.
Don’t quit using your favorite features. But be aware that the battery will drain faster if you spend hours streaming music from your phone to your hearing aids.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra functions can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can affect batteries too
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, especially if they’re on their last leg. When flying, skiing, or climbing remember to bring some spares.
Perhaps the batteries aren’t really drained
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is low. As a general rule, these warnings 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.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. You may be able to get several more hours or even days out of that battery.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
Wait until you’re ready to use the battery before you pull off the protective tab. Always wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries so you don’t get hand oil or dirt on them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. This might extend the life of other batteries but that’s not the case with hearing aid batteries.
Simple handling mistakes like these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
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 expect that the last several batteries in the pack will drain faster. Try to limit yourself to a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
We’re not claiming it’s always a bad idea to purchase things online. You can get some great deals. But you will also find some less honest vendors who will sell batteries that are near to or even past their expiration date.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. You wouldn’t buy milk without checking when it expires. The same goes with batteries. Make sure that the date is well in the future to get the most use out of the pack.
If you buy your batteries at a hearing aid center or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the packaging, but if you are going to shop online be sure the vendor states when the batteries will expire. Make sure you check reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a reliable source.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
Hearing aid batteries may drain more quickly for several reasons. But you can get more energy from each battery by taking little precautions. And if you’re considering an upgrade, consider rechargeable hearing aids. You will get a full day of power after each night of recharging. The rechargeable batteries only need to be swapped out every few years.
