Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain faster than they should? There are several reasons why this may be occurring that might be unexpected.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? 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 at the store on day 4. Unexpectedly, your sound cuts out. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or, you’re out for dinner with friends on day 5. All of a sudden, you can’t hear the conversation and it’s leaving you feeling quite alone.
Now, you’re attending your grandchild’s school play. And the children’s singing goes quiet. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, they even occasionally die after a couple of days.
It’s more than inconvenient. You have no clue how much power is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 possible culprits if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Your Battery can be killed by moisture
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that discharge moisture through their skin? You do it to cool down. 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 get clogged by this excess moisture which can cause less efficient performance. It can even interact with the chemicals that make electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Prevent battery drain caused by moisture using these steps:
- Open the battery door before you store your hearing aids
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a few days
- Store your hearing aids in a spot where moisture is at a minimum
- Get a dehumidifier
State-of-the-art hearing aid functions can drain batteries
Modern digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out just a decade ago. But when these sophisticated functions are in use, they can be a draw on battery power.
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.
Batteries can be affected by altitude changes
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, especially if they’re low already. When flying, skiing, or climbing always takes some spares.
Maybe the batteries aren’t really drained
Many hearing aids will warn you when the batteries need to be replaced. Generally, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. Additionally, you might get a warning when the charge drops because of an altitude or humidity change.
Take out the hearing aids and reset them to quiet the alarm. You may be able to get several more hours or even days out of that battery.
Handling the batteries improperly
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. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. This may increase 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.
Buying a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a good idea
Purchasing in bulk is usually a smart money decision when you can afford it. But you can anticipate that the last few batteries in the pack won’t last as long. It can be a waste to purchase any more than 6 months worth.
Online battery vendors
This isn’t a broad criticism of buying stuff on the internet. You can get some great deals. But you will also come across 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. 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 usage 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 box. Only purchase batteries from reliable sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
Hearing aid batteries may drain more quickly for numerous 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 an entire day of power after each night of recharging. The rechargeable batteries only need to be replaced every few years.
