Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries drain way too fast? There are numerous reasons why this might be taking place that might be surprising.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The ordinary hearing aid battery lasts anywhere between 3 and 7 days.
That’s a very wide range. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and could leave you in a bind.
You could be on day 4 at the supermarket store. All of a sudden, you can’t hear anything. The cashier is speaking 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 what your friends are saying.
Maybe you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. And the children’s singing disappears. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, they even occasionally die after a couple of days.
It’s more than inconvenient. You have no clue how much juice is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
If your hearing aid batteries die too quickly, look to these seven possible causes.
Moisture can drain a battery
Did you realize that human beings are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? You do it to cool down. You do it to remove excess sodium or toxins in the blood. In addition, you might live in a humid or rainy environment where things get even wetter.
The air vent in your device can become clogged by this extra moisture which can result in less efficient performance. It can even kill the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that make electricity.
Prevent battery drain caused by moisture using these steps:
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for several days
- Get a dehumidifier
- Store your hearing aids in a spot where moisture is at a minimum
- Open up the battery door before you store your hearing aids
Advanced hearing aid functions can run down batteries
Even 10 years ago, hearing aids were much less helpful for people with hearing loss than modern devices. But when these sophisticated functions are being used, they can be a drain on battery power.
Don’t quit 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 replace the battery sooner.
All these extra 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 drain your batteries, especially if they’re low already. Be certain that you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on a plane.
Is the battery actually 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 drop and the low battery alarm will sound.
Take out the hearing aids and reset them to quiet the alarm. There could be hours or even days of juice left.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
You shouldn’t pull off the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be a problem for batteries so wash up before you handle them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t increase their life as it might with other kinds of batteries.
Hearing aids will drain faster if you mishandle them in these ways.
Purchasing a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a good idea
Purchasing in bulk is usually a smart money decision when you can afford to do it. But you can anticipate that the last several batteries in the pack will drain faster. It can be a waste to purchase any more than a 6 month supply.
internet battery vendors
We’re not suggesting it’s always a bad idea to buy 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 gone by.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. You wouldn’t buy milk without looking at when 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, send the online vendor a message, or buy batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid store where you can see it on the packaging. Only purchase batteries from reliable sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no longer
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries could 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 have to be swapped out every few years.
