Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die quicker than they ought to? Here are a few surprising reasons that might happen.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? From 3 to 7 days is the typical period 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 could be at the store on day 4. Out of the blue, you can’t hear anything. You can’t hear the cashier.
Or, you’re out for dinner with friends on day 5. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer follow what your friends are saying.
Maybe you go to your grandchild’s school to watch a play. And the kid’s singing disappears. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, occasionally they even drain before that 3-day mark.
It’s not just inconvenient. You have no clue how much power is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Moisture can drain a battery
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that human beings do that the majority of other species don’t. You do it to cool down. You do it to eliminate extra sodium or toxins in the blood. Your battery may be subjected to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy setting.
The air vent in your device can get clogged by this excess moisture which can cause less efficient performance. It can even interact with the chemicals that produce electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Here are several steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for a prolonged period of time, take out the batteries
- Use a dehumidifier
- Before you go to bed, open up the battery door
Sophisticated modern features are power intensive
Even a decade ago, hearing aids were a lot less helpful for individuals with hearing loss than modern devices. But when these sophisticated functions are in use, they can be a drain 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
Going from a low to high altitude can deplete your batteries, particularly if they’re low already. When flying, skiing, or climbing always takes some spares.
Maybe the batteries aren’t really drained
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be changed. These warnings, generally speaking, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re simply a heads up. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity temporarily causes the charge to drop and the low battery alarm will sound.
Take out the hearing aids and reset them to quiet the alarm. You may be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
You should never remove the little tab from the battery if you’re not ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be an issue for batteries so wash up before you handle them. Keep your batteries out of the freezer. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other kinds of 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 choice when you can afford to do it. 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.
Buying hearing aid batteries from the internet
We’re not claiming it’s necessarily a bad idea to purchase things on the internet. You can find a lot of bargains. But you will also come across some less honest vendors who will sell batteries that are near to or even past their expiration date.
Most types of batteries, including 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. In order to get the most out of your battery, make sure the date is well into the future.
If the website doesn’t state an expiration date, send the online vendor a message, or buy batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid center where you can see it on the packaging. Make sure you check reviews to be certain you’re buying from a reputable source.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries might drain quickly. But you can get more power from each battery by taking little precautions. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new pair. You will get an entire day of power after every night of recharging. Every few years, you will need to change the rechargeable batteries.