Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries die way too quickly? There are numerous reasons why this may be happening that might be unexpected.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? From 3 to 7 days is the typical amount of time for charge to last.
That range is rather wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament.
You could be on day 4 at the supermarket store. 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 it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. All of a sudden, you can’t follow the conversation and it’s leaving you feeling quite alone.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to watch 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 isn’t just inconvenient. You have no idea how much power is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 likely causes if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Your Battery can be killed by moisture
Releasing moisture through our skin is one thing that human beings do that most other species don’t. It’s a cooling system. You do it to get rid of excess sodium or toxins in the blood. In addition, you may 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 interact with the chemicals that produce electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Avoid battery drain related to moisture with these steps:
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
- Before going to bed, open the battery door
- Store your hearing aids in a spot where moisture is at a minimum
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a few days
Advanced modern features are power intensive
Even 10 years ago, hearing aids were much less helpful for people with hearing loss than current devices. But these added functions can cause batteries to drain more quickly if you’re not paying attention.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use these amazing features. But just know that if you stream music for hours from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to replace the battery sooner.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added features can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can affect batteries too
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a rapid climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. When flying, skiing, or climbing remember to bring some spares.
Is the battery really drained?
Many hearing aids will warn you when the batteries need to be changed. These warnings, generally speaking, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re just 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.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There may be hours or even days of power left.
Incorrect handling of batteries
You shouldn’t 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 handling them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other types of batteries.
Hearing aids will drain faster if you mishandle them in these ways.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
It’s usually a practical financial decision to purchase in bulk. But you can expect that the last few batteries in the pack won’t last as long. Try to limit yourself to a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with the waste.
Online battery vendors
This isn’t a general critique of buying things online. You can find a lot of bargains. But you will also find some less honest vendors who will sell batteries that are close to or even past their expiration date.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have expiration dates. When you purchase milk, you wouldn’t forget to check the expiration date. You shouldn’t do that with 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 center where you can see it on the packaging. Make sure you look for reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a reliable source.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries could drain quickly. But by taking small precautions you can get more power from each battery. And if you’re considering an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You dock these hearing aids on a charger each night for a full day of hearing the next day. Every few years, you will have to replace the rechargeable batteries.