Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries die way too quickly? Here are a few unexpected reasons that may happen.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The ordinary hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days.
That’s a really wide range. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and may leave you in trouble.
You could be at the store on day 4. Out of the blue, you can’t hear anything. The cashier is talking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or, you’re out for dinner with friends on day 5. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer hear the conversation.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to watch a play. And the kid’s singing goes quiet. But it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before the 3rd day.
It’s more than inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you don’t know how much juice is left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 possible culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Moisture can kill a battery
Releasing moisture through our skin is one thing that humans do that the majority of other species don’t. You do it to cool down. You do it to remove excess sodium or toxins in the blood. On top of this, you might live in a humid or rainy environment where things get even wetter.
This extra 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 a few steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
- Open up the battery door before storing the hearing aids
- Get a dehumidifier
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for a prolonged period of time, remove the batteries
Advanced modern features are power intensive
Even 10 years ago, hearing aids were a lot less helpful for individuals with hearing loss than modern devices. But when these sophisticated features are being used, they can be a draw on battery power.
That doesn’t mean you should stop using these amazing features. But be aware that the battery will die faster if you spend hours streaming music from your cellphone to your hearing aids.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra features can drain your battery.
Batteries can be impacted 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 especially true. Be certain that you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on a plane.
Is the battery actually drained?
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is low. As a general rule, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They aren’t telling you the battery is dead. Additionally, you might get a warning when the charge drops due to an altitude or humidity change.
Take out the hearing aids and reset them to stop the alarm. There may be hours or even days of power left.
Incorrect handling of batteries
You shouldn’t pull off the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. 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 out of the freezer. This may 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.
Buying a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a great idea
Purchasing in bulk is often a smart money choice when you can afford it. But you can anticipate that the last few batteries in the pack will drain faster. It can be a waste to buy 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 get some great deals. But some less honest people will sell batteries on the internet that are very near to the expiration date. Or even worse, it has already gone by.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. When you purchase milk, you wouldn’t forget to look at the expiration date. You shouldn’t forget to check the date on batteries either. Make sure that the date is far enough in the future to get the most usage out of the pack.
If the website doesn’t declare an expiration date, message the seller, or buy batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid store where you can see it on the packaging. Only buy batteries from trustworthy sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
Hearing aid batteries may drain faster for numerous reasons. But you can get more power from each battery by taking small precautions. And if you’re thinking of an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You put these hearing aids on a charger every night for a full day of hearing the next day. Every few years, you will have to replace the rechargeable batteries.
