Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries drain way too fast? Here are a few unexpected reasons that might occur. How long should hearing aid batteries last? The typical hearing aid battery should last between 3 and 7 days. That’s a really wide range. In fact, it’s so wide that it probably doesn’t help you predict what should be taking place with your hearing aid. Things could suddenly go quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the supermarket after 4 days of battery power. Or maybe on day 5, you’re enjoying a conversation with friends when you suddenly feel very alone because you can’t participate because you can’t hear. Now, you’re watching TV. You can no longer hear the news. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before that 3-day mark. It’s not just inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you don’t know how much juice you have left in your hearing aids. Here are the likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries die too soon.
A Battery Can be Depleted by Moisture
There aren’t very many species that produce moisture through their skin but humans do. We do it to cool off. It’s the body’s way of ridding the blood of sodium and toxins. In addition, you may live in a rainy or humid climate where things are even wetter. This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making it less reliable. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity. Here are some steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- Moist environments, like the kitchen or bathroom are not a good place to keep your hearing aids
- Get a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
- if your storing them for a number of days or more, take the batteries out
- Before you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
Advanced Hearing Aid Features Can Deplete Batteries
You get a much better hearing aid now than you did even ten years ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to run down faster if you’re not keeping an eye on them. You can still use your favorite features. But be aware that if you stream music for hours from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to change the battery sooner. Your battery can be depleted by any of the advanced features, like multichannel, Bluetooth, noise cancellation, and tinnitus relief.
Altitude Changes Can Impact Batteries Too
Your batteries can be drained if you go from low to high altitudes particularly if they are already low on juice. Take some spare batteries if you are going on a plane or high up into the mountains.
Maybe The Batteries Aren’t Really Low
Some models will give you a warning when the battery begins to get too low. These alerts are, under normal circumstances, a “heads up”. It doesn’t mean you have a depleted battery. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude temporarily causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm gets triggered. Take the hearing aids out and reset them to end the alarm. The battery might last several more hours or even days.
Handling Batteries Improperly
Wait until you’re ready to use your hearing aid to pull the tab from the battery. Always wash your hands before touching your hearing aids or batteries to avoid getting dirt or hand oil on them. Hearing aid batteries should not be frozen. It doesn’t extend their life as it could with other types of batteries. Hearing aid batteries may lose battery power quicker if you make these basic handling mistakes.
It isn’t a Good Plan to Buy a Year’s Supply of Batteries
If you can afford to do it, purchasing in bulk can be a smart idea. But the last few batteries in the pack probably won’t have full power. Unless you’re fine with wasting a few, try to stick to a six month supply.
Buying Hearing Aid Batteries on The Internet
Buying online can be a good thing. You can get some great deals. But some less scrupulous people sell batteries online that are very close to the expiration date. They might even be past their expiration date. So buyer beware.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have a date they will expire. If you were going to buy milk, you would check the expiration date. You should use the same amount of caution with batteries. Make sure that the date is not close to the expiration to get the most use out of the pack. It’s probably a good idea to message the vendor if you don’t see an expiration date or even better, come see us for your battery needs. Be sure you know and trust the seller.
Now You Can Get Rechargeable Hearing Aids
There are a number of reasons that hearing batteries could drain rapidly. But you can get more power out of your batteries by taking some precautions. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re going to buy a new set. You dock them on a charger each night for a full charge the next day. And you only have to change them every few years.