Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries lose their charge too fast? Here are a few surprising reasons that could occur.What is the average length of time that your hearing aid batteries should stay charged? The typical hearing aid battery should last between 3 and 7 days. That range is pretty wide. Actually, it’s so wide that it probably won’t help you predict what should be going on with your hearing aid. Things could suddenly go quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the grocery store after 4 days of battery power. Or perhaps on day 5, you’re having an enjoyable conversation with friends when you suddenly feel very alone because you can’t participate because you can’t hear. Sometimes the batteries don’t even make 3 days. Like when you’re watching TV on day 2 and all of a sudden you can’t hear the show your that’s on. It isn’t just inconvenient. You just can’t tell how much battery power your hearing aids have left and it’s making you miss out on life. Here are the most likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Moisture Can Drain a Battery
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that release moisture through their skin? We do it to cool off. It’s the body’s way of ridding the blood of sodium and toxins. Moreover, 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 it less effective. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity. You can prevent moisture-related battery drainage with these measures:
- A dehumidifier for your hearing aid is recommended
- Before you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a number of days
- Moist conditions, like the kitchen or bathroom aren’t a good place to keep your hearing aids
Advanced Hearing Aid Functions Can Deplete Batteries
Current digital hearing aids help people hear a lot better than ones that came out just a decade ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to run down faster if you’re not paying attention. You can still use your favorite features. But just know that if you stream music for hours from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll have to change the battery sooner. Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added functions can drain your battery.
Altitude Changes Can Impact Batteries Too
Your batteries can be drained if you go from low to high altitudes particularly if they are already low on juice. When flying, skiing or climbing always takes some extra batteries.
Are The Batteries Really Low?
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is low. Generally speaking, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. It doesn’t mean you have a dead battery. Also, the charge can at times dip briefly due to altitude or environmental changes and that can trigger a false low battery warning. In order to stop the alarm, remove the batteries, and then put them back in. You may be able to get several more hours or possibly even days out of that battery.
Improper Handling of Batteries
Wait until you’re ready to use your hearing aid to pull the tab from the battery. Always wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to avoid getting dirt or hand oil on them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. This trick may increase the life of some kinds of battery but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries. Basic handling errors like these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
It’s Not a Good Plan to Buy a Year’s Supply of Batteries
Buying in bulk is often a smart money move when you can afford to do it. But the last few batteries in the pack most likely won’t have full power. Unless you don’t mind wasting a few, try to stay with a six month supply.
Buying Hearing Aid Batteries Online
It’s not an over-all critique of buying things online. You can get some good deals. But some less scrupulous people will sell batteries online that are very near to the expiration date. Or even worse, they are already passed. So you need to be cautious.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. If you were going to buy milk, you would look at the expiration date. You need to use the same amount of care with batteries. Be sure that the date is well in the future to get the most use out of the pack. It’s probably a smart idea to message the vendor if you don’t see an expiration date or even better, come see us for your battery needs. Make sure you know and trust the seller.
Modern Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
Hearing aids could drain too rapidly for a number of reasons. But you can get more power from your batteries by taking some precautions. You might also think about rechargeable hearing aids if you’re going to buy a new set. If you charge them at night, you get a full day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only need to be changed every few years.