Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die quicker than they should? There are numerous reasons why this may be occurring that may be surprising.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? From 3 to 7 days is the typical time-frame for charge to last.
That range is rather wide. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and could leave you in trouble.
You could be at market on day 4. Suddenly, your sound cuts out. You can’t hear the cashier.
Or, you’re out for lunch with friends on day 5. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer hear the conversation.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. You can no longer hear the children singing. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before that 3-day mark.
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 drain quickly.
Your Battery can be drained by moisture
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that human beings do that the majority of other species don’t. It’s a cooling mechanism. It also cleans the blood of unwanted toxins and sodium. Your battery may be subjected to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy setting.
The air vent in your device can become clogged by this excess moisture which can result in less efficient performance. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity.
Prevent battery drain related to moisture using these steps:
- Keep your hearing aids in a place where moisture is minimum
- Before you go to bed, open up the battery door
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended period of time, remove the batteries
- Use a dehumidifier
Advanced hearing aid features can run down batteries
Even a decade ago, hearing aids were a lot less helpful for people with hearing loss than modern devices. But these added functions can cause batteries to drain more quickly if you’re not paying attention.
Don’t quit using your favorite features. But just know that if you stream music for hours from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to replace the battery sooner.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra functions can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can affect batteries as well
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a rapid climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. Be certain that you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on a plane.
Is the battery actually drained?
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be replaced. These warnings, generally speaking, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re simply a heads up. Moreover, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity temporarily causes the charge to drop and the low battery alarm gets triggered.
Take the hearing aids out and reset them to stop the alarm. You may be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Improper handling of batteries
Wait until you’re ready to use the battery before you remove the protective tab. Hand oil or dirt can be an issue for batteries so wash up before handling them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. This may 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.
Buying a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a great idea
Purchasing in bulk is usually a smart money choice when you can afford to do it. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries likely won’t last as long. Try to limit yourself to a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with the waste.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
This isn’t a general critique of buying stuff online. You can get some great deals. But you will also find some less honest vendors who will sell batteries that are close to or even past their expiration date.
Most types of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. You wouldn’t purchase milk without checking the expiration. You shouldn’t do that with batteries either. In order to get the most from your battery, be certain the date is well into the future.
If the website doesn’t declare an expiration date, send the online vendor a message, or purchase batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid center where you can see it on the box. Only buy batteries from trustworthy sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no longer
Hearing aid batteries might drain more quickly for numerous reasons. But you can get more energy from each battery by taking small precautions. You might also think about rechargeable hearing aids if you’re in the market for a new pair. You will get a full day of power after every night of recharging. The rechargeable batteries only need to be swapped out every few years.
