Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain quicker than they ought to? 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 amount of time for charge to last.
That’s a very wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament.
You may be at market on day 4. Unexpectedly, things get quiet. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or, you’re out for lunch 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 at your grandson’s school play. And the kid’s singing goes quiet. But it’s only day 2. Yes, they even occasionally drain after a couple of days.
It’s not simply inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you don’t know how much power you have left in your hearing aids.
If your hearing aid batteries drain too quickly, check out these seven possible culprits.
Moisture can drain a battery
Did you realize that humans are one of the few species that discharge moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling system. 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 place.
The air vent in your device can get plugged by this extra moisture which can result in less efficient functionality. It can even kill the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity.
Here are several steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Store your hearing aids in a spot where moisture is at a minimum
- A dehumidifier is helpful
- Open up the battery door before you store your hearing aids
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for a prolonged period of time, take out the batteries
Advanced hearing aid features can run down batteries
Current digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out only a decade ago. But when these advanced features 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 all day 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 faster.
Altitude changes can impact batteries too
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a rapid climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is especially true. Make sure you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on a plane.
Is the battery really drained?
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is getting low. These warnings, as a general rule, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re simply a heads up. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude temporarily causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm gets triggered.
You can stop the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There could be hours or even days of power left.
Handling the batteries improperly
You should never pull off the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be an issue for batteries so wash up before you handle them. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. It doesn’t increase their life as it might with other kinds of batteries.
Hearing aids will drain more quickly if you mishandle them in these ways.
Purchasing a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a good idea
It’s often a practical financial choice to buy 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 limit yourself to a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with the waste.
Buying hearing aid batteries from the internet
We’re not saying it’s necessarily a bad idea to buy things online. You can find lots of bargains. But some less scrupulous people will sell batteries on the internet that are very close to the expiration date. Or even worse, it has already gone by.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have expiration dates. When you purchase milk, you wouldn’t forget to check the expiration date. You shouldn’t do that with batteries either. If you want 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 store or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the packaging, but if you are going to shop online be sure the seller specifies when the batteries will expire. Make sure you look for reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a trustworthy source.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
Hearing aid batteries may drain faster for numerous reasons. But by taking little precautions you can get more power from each battery. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new pair. You will get a full day of power after every night of recharging. The rechargeable batteries only have to be swapped out every few years.