Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die quicker than they ought to? Here are some surprising reasons that might occur.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery last? From 3 to 7 days is the typical amount of time for charge to last.
That’s a really wide range. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and could leave you in trouble.
You could be at market on day 4. Out of the blue, you can’t hear anything. You can’t hear the cashier.
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 follow the conversation.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to watch a play. And the kid’s singing disappears. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before the 3rd day.
It’s more than annoying. You’re losing out on life because you don’t know how much power you have left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Your Battery can be killed by moisture
Did you realize that human beings are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? You do it to cool down. It also cleans the blood of unwanted toxins and sodium. On top of this, you may live in a rainy humid environment where things get even wetter.
The air vent in your device can become clogged by this extra moisture which can result in less efficient performance. 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:
- Store your hearing aids in a place where moisture is minimum
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for a few days
- Use a dehumidifier
- Open up the battery door before storing the hearing aids
Sophisticated modern features are power intensive
Even 10 years ago, hearing aids were much less helpful for individuals with hearing loss than modern devices. But these added functions can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not paying attention.
Don’t stop using your favorite features. But be aware that the battery will die faster if you spend all day streaming music from your cellphone to your hearing aids.
All these extra features, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery faster.
Batteries can be impacted by altitude changes
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, especially if they’re low already. When flying, climbing, or skiing always takes some spares.
Perhaps the batteries aren’t really drained
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be changed. As a general rule, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. Moreover, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude temporarily causes the charge to dip 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.
Handling the batteries improperly
Wait until you’re ready to use the battery before you remove the protective tab. Make sure you wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to avoid getting hand oil or dirt on them. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. This might 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 faster.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
Purchasing in bulk is usually a smart money choice when you can afford it. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries most likely won’t last as long. It can be a waste to purchase any more than 6 months worth.
Online battery vendors
We’re not suggesting it’s necessarily a bad idea to buy things online. You can find a lot of bargains. But some less scrupulous individuals will sell batteries online that are very close to the expiration date. Or worse, it has already passed.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have expiration dates. You wouldn’t buy milk without checking when it expires. You shouldn’t forget to check the date on batteries either. In order to get the most out of your battery, make sure the date is well into the future.
If you buy your batteries at a hearing aid center or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the packaging, but if you’re going to shop on the internet make sure the seller states when the batteries will expire. Only purchase batteries from reliable sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries may drain quickly. But by taking little precautions you can get more power out of each battery. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new set. You put these hearing aids on a charger each night for an entire day of hearing tomorrow. The rechargeable batteries only need to be swapped out every few years.
