Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die faster than they should? There are several reasons why this may be occurring that may be unexpected.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The typical hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days.
That range is pretty wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament.
You could be on day 4 at the grocery store. All of a sudden, you can’t hear anything. The cashier is talking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer hear what your friends are saying.
Now, you’re attending your grandchild’s school play. You can no longer hear the kids singing. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before the 3rd day.
It’s not only inconvenient. You’re losing out on life because you’re not sure how much power is left in your hearing aids.
If your hearing aid batteries drain too quickly, check out these seven possible causes.
Your Battery can be killed by moisture
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that human beings do that most other species don’t. It’s a cooling system. You do it to eliminate extra sodium or toxins in the blood. On top of this, you may live in a rainy humid environment where things get even wetter.
The air vent in your device can get 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 produce electricity.
Here are several steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
- Open the battery door before storing the hearing aids
- Store your hearing aids in a spot where moisture is minimum
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for a few days
State-of-the-art hearing aid features can run down batteries
Modern digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But when these advanced functions are being used, they can be a draw on battery power.
Don’t stop 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 change the battery sooner.
All these extra functions, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery more quickly.
Altitude changes can affect batteries as well
Going from a low to high altitude can deplete your batteries, especially if they’re low already. When flying, skiing, or climbing remember to bring some spares.
Is the battery actually drained?
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is getting low. 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 humidity or altitude briefly causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm will sound.
Take out the hearing aids and reset them to quiet the alarm. There may be hours or even days of juice left.
Handling the batteries improperly
You should never remove the little tab from the battery if you’re not ready to use it. Always 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 may increase 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.
Purchasing a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a great idea
It’s often a wise financial choice to purchase in bulk. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries most likely won’t last as long. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with the waste.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
We’re not saying it’s automatically a bad idea to buy things on the internet. You can find a lot of bargains. But you will also come across some less honest vendors who will sell batteries that are close to or even past their expiration date.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have expiration dates. You wouldn’t purchase milk without looking at the expiration. The same goes with batteries. Make sure that the date is well in the future to get the most usage out of the pack.
If you buy your batteries at a hearing aid center or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the labeling, but if you’re going to shop online be sure the seller specifies when the batteries will expire. Only purchase batteries from reputable sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no longer
Hearing aid batteries may drain faster for several reasons. But you can get more power from each battery by taking small precautions. And if you’re considering an upgrade, consider rechargeable hearing aids. You dock these hearing aids on a charger every night for a full day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only need to be replaced every few years.