Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries die way too quickly? Here are some unexpected reasons that might occur.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? From 3 to 7 days is the standard amount of time for charge to last.
That’s a very wide range. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and could leave you in trouble.
You could be on day 4 at the grocery store. Unexpectedly, your sound cuts out. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or it’s day 5. You’re appreciating a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear what your friends are saying.
Maybe you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. You can no longer hear the kids singing. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, they even occasionally die after a couple of days.
It’s more than annoying. You have no clue how much juice is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 possible causes if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Moisture can drain a battery
Producing 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. Your battery could be exposed to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy place.
This extra moisture can clog the air vent in your device, affecting the hearing aid’s efficiency. It can even interact with the chemicals that generate electricity causing it to drain even faster.
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
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended period of time, remove the batteries
- A dehumidifier is helpful
- Before going to bed, open the battery door
State-of-the-art hearing aid features can drain batteries
Modern digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out only a decade ago. But when these sophisticated features are being used, they can be a drain on battery power.
That doesn’t mean you should stop using these amazing 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 added functions, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery faster.
Batteries can be affected by altitude changes
Going from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, especially if they’re low already. Be certain that you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on a plane.
Is the battery actually drained?
Many hearing aids will warn you when the batteries need to be replaced. These warnings, generally speaking, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re just a heads up. In addition, you might get a warning when the charge takes a dip due to an altitude or humidity change.
You can stop the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. You may be able to get several more hours or even days out of that battery.
Handling the batteries improperly
You should never pull off the little tab from the battery if you’re not ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be a problem for batteries so wash up before handling them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t increase their life as it might with other types of batteries.
Hearing aids will drain faster if you mishandle them in these ways.
Buying a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a good idea
It’s usually a practical financial decision 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. It can be a waste to purchase any more than 6 months worth.
Online battery vendors
We’re not suggesting it’s necessarily a bad idea to purchase things online. You can get some really good deals. But some less scrupulous individuals will sell batteries online that are very close to the expiration date. Or even 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 look at the date it expires. The same goes with batteries. If you want to get the most from your battery, make sure the date is well into the future.
If you purchase your batteries at a hearing aid store or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the packaging, but if you’re going to shop online be sure the seller specifies when the batteries will expire. Only buy batteries from trustworthy sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no longer
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries might drain quickly. But by taking small precautions you can get more energy out of each battery. You might also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new pair. You dock these hearing aids on a charger each night for a full day of hearing tomorrow. Every few years, you will have to change the rechargeable batteries.
