Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die faster than they ought to? Here are a few unexpected reasons that may occur.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? From 3 to 7 days is the standard period of time for charge to last.
That’s a very wide range. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and might leave you in a bind.
You may be at market on day 4. Unexpectedly, things get quiet. The cashier is talking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or it’s day 5. You’re appreciating a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear what your friends are saying.
Now, you’re at your grandson’s school 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 annoying. You have no idea how much juice is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Moisture can kill 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 helps clear the blood of unwanted toxins and sodium. Your battery may be exposed to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy place.
The air vent in your device can become clogged by this extra moisture which can result in less efficient performance. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that make electricity.
Prevent battery drain related to moisture using these steps:
- Before going to bed, open up the battery door
- Store your hearing aids in a place where moisture is minimum
- A dehumidifier is helpful
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended time period, remove the batteries
Sophisticated modern features are power intensive
Even a decade ago, hearing aids were a lot less helpful for people with hearing loss than modern devices. But when these sophisticated functions are being used, they can be a draw on battery power.
Don’t stop using your favorite features. But be aware that the battery will drain faster if you spend all day streaming music from your phone to your hearing aids.
All these extra functions, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery faster.
Altitude changes can impact batteries as well
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, particularly if they’re low already. Make sure you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on an aircraft.
Perhaps the batteries aren’t actually drained
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be changed. Generally, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They aren’t telling you the battery is dead. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity briefly causes the charge to drop and the low battery alarm gets triggered.
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 from that battery.
Improper handling of batteries
You should never remove the little tab from the battery if you’re not ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be an issue for batteries so wash up before handling them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. This might extend the life of other batteries but that’s not the case with hearing aid batteries.
Hearing aids will drain more quickly if you mishandle them in these ways.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
It’s usually a practical financial choice to purchase in bulk. But you can expect that the last several batteries in the pack won’t last as long. It can be a waste to purchase any more than 6 months worth.
internet battery vendors
This isn’t a broad critique of buying things online. You can get some really good deals. But some less scrupulous individuals will sell batteries online that are very near 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. You wouldn’t buy milk without looking at the expiration. The same goes with batteries. Be certain that the date is well 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 purchase batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid store where you can see it on the packaging. Make sure you check reviews to be certain you’re buying from a trustworthy source.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries could drain quickly. But you can get more power from each battery by taking little precautions. And if you’re thinking of an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You will get an entire day of power after every night of recharging. Every few years, you will have to replace the rechargeable batteries.