Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries die way too quickly? There are several reasons why this might be happening that might be unexpected.
So how long should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? From 3 to 7 days is the typical time-frame for charge to last.
That range is fairly 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, your sound cuts out. The cashier is talking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear the conversation.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. And the children’s singing disappears. But 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 don’t know how much power you have left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 possible culprits if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Moisture can kill a battery
Releasing moisture through our skin is one thing that humans do that most other species don’t. You do it to cool down. You do it to eliminate excess sodium or toxins in the blood. In addition, you might live in a humid or rainy environment where things get even wetter.
The air vent in your device can get 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:
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for several days
- Keep your hearing aids in a place where moisture is at a minimum
- Open up the battery door before storing the hearing aids
- Use a dehumidifier
Advanced hearing aid functions can drain batteries
Even 10 years ago, hearing aids were much less helpful for people with hearing loss than modern devices. But these added features can cause batteries to drain more quickly if you’re not paying attention.
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.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra functions can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can impact batteries too
Going from a low to high altitude can deplete your batteries, particularly if they’re on their last leg. Make sure you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on an aircraft.
Is the battery actually drained?
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is low. These warnings, generally speaking, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re just a heads up. Additionally, you might get a warning when the charge drops due to an altitude or humidity change.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. You might be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
You shouldn’t pull off the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. 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 out of the freezer. This may 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 quickly.
Purchasing a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a great idea
It’s often a wise financial choice to purchase in bulk. But you can expect that the last few batteries in the pack will drain faster. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
This isn’t a broad critique of buying things online. You can find a lot of bargains. But you will also come across some less honest vendors who will sell batteries that are close to or even past their expiration date.
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 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 use out of the pack.
If the website doesn’t declare an expiration date, send the online vendor a message, or buy batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid store where you can see it on the packaging. Only purchase batteries from trustworthy sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no longer
Hearing aid batteries may drain more quickly for numerous reasons. But by taking small precautions you can get more power from each battery. And if you’re thinking of an upgrade, consider rechargeable hearing aids. You will get an entire day of power after every night of recharging. Every few years, you will have to change the rechargeable batteries.
