Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries die way too quickly? There are numerous reasons why this might be happening that may be unexpected.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? From 3 to 7 days is the standard period of time for charge to last.
That’s a really wide range. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and might leave you in a bind.
You may be at the store on day 4. All of a sudden, you can’t hear anything. The cashier is speaking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. All of a sudden, you can’t hear the discussion and it’s leaving you feeling quite alone.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to watch a play. You can no longer hear the children singing. But it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even drain before the 3rd day.
It isn’t just inconvenient. You have no clue how much power is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 possible causes if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Moisture can drain a battery
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that discharge moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling system. It also cleans the blood of unwanted toxins and sodium. In addition, you may live in a humid or rainy climate where things get even wetter.
This extra moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making hearing aids less efficient. It can even interact with the chemicals that make electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Here are a few steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- Use a dehumidifier
- Before going to bed, open up the battery door
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for a few days
Sophisticated modern features are power intensive
Current digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out just 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 drain faster if you spend hours streaming music from your cellphone to your hearing aids.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added features can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can impact batteries too
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a quick climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. Be certain that you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on a plane.
Maybe the batteries aren’t actually drained
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is getting low. As a general rule, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. Additionally, you might get a warning when the charge takes a dip because of an altitude or humidity change.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There may be hours or even days of juice left.
Incorrect handling of batteries
You should never pull off 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. Keep your batteries out of the freezer. This might extend the life of other batteries but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries.
Hearing aids will drain faster if you mishandle them in these ways.
Purchasing a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a great idea
Purchasing in bulk is usually a smart money decision when you can afford it. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries likely won’t last as long. It can be a waste to buy any more than a 6 month supply.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
We’re not saying it’s necessarily a bad idea to purchase things online. You can get some really good deals. But some less honest individuals will sell batteries on the internet 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. You wouldn’t buy milk without checking when it expires. The same goes with batteries. If you want to get the most from your battery, be certain the date is well into the future.
If you buy your batteries at a hearing aid store or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the labeling, but if you’re going to shop online make sure the seller states when the batteries will expire. Only buy batteries from reputable sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries may drain quickly. But you can get more energy from each battery by taking little precautions. You may also think about rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new pair. 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.
