Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries drain way too quickly? There are several reasons why this may be happening that may be surprising.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The standard hearing aid battery lasts anywhere between 3 and 7 days.
That range is rather wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You could be on day 4 at the grocery store. Out of the blue, you can’t hear anything. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear what your friends are saying.
Now, you’re attending your grandson’s school play. You can no longer hear the children singing. But it’s only day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before the 3rd day.
It’s more than inconvenient. You’re losing out on life because you don’t know how much power you have left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 possible culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Your Battery can be drained by moisture
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling mechanism. You do it to eliminate excess sodium or toxins in the blood. In addition, you might live in a humid or rainy climate where things get even wetter.
This excess moisture can clog up the air vent in your device, making hearing aids less efficient. It can even kill the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that make electricity.
Here are several steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for a few days
- Before you go to bed, open up the battery door
- Use a dehumidifier
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
Advanced hearing aid features can drain batteries
Even a decade ago, hearing aids were much less helpful for individuals with hearing loss than modern devices. But these extra functions can cause batteries to drain more quickly if you’re not paying attention.
That doesn’t mean you should stop using these amazing features. But be aware that the battery will drain faster if you spend all day streaming music from your phone to your hearing aids.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added functions can drain your battery.
Batteries can be affected by altitude changes
Your batteries can be quickly depleted when you have a quick climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. When flying, skiing, or climbing always takes some spares.
Is the battery actually drained?
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be replaced. These warnings, as a general rule, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re simply a heads up. Moreover, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude briefly causes the charge to drop and the low battery alarm will sound.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There could be hours or even days of power left.
Incorrect handling of batteries
Wait until you’re ready to use the battery before you remove the protective tab. Hand oil or dirt can be a problem for batteries so wash up before you handle them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. This might extend the life of other batteries but that’s not the case with hearing aid batteries.
Hearing aids will drain faster if you mishandle them in these ways.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
Buying 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.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
This isn’t a general criticism of buying things online. You can find lots of bargains. But some less honest people will sell batteries on the internet that are very near to the expiration date. Or worse, it has already passed.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have expiration dates. When you purchase milk, you wouldn’t forget to check the date it expires. You shouldn’t forget to check the date on batteries either. In order to get the most out of your battery, be certain the date is well into the future.
If the website doesn’t declare an expiration date, message the seller, or purchase batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid store where you can see it on the box. Make sure you look for reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a reputable source.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries may drain quickly. But you can get more power from each battery by taking little precautions. And if you’re thinking of an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You will get a full day of power after each night of recharging. The rechargeable batteries only need to be swapped out every few years.
