Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die faster than they should? Here are a few unexpected reasons that might occur.
So how long should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? The standard 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 may leave you in a bind.
You could be on day 4 at the grocery store. Unexpectedly, your sound cuts out. 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. All of a sudden, you can’t hear the discussion and it’s leaving you feeling rather alone.
Maybe you go to your grandchild’s school to watch a play. And the kid’s singing goes quiet. But it’s only day 2. Yes, they even sometimes drain after a couple of days.
It’s more than annoying. You have no idea 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.
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 mechanism. It also cleans the blood of unwanted toxins and sodium. Your battery may be subjected to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy place.
The air vent in your device can get plugged by this excess moisture which can cause less efficient functionality. It can even kill the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that make electricity.
Prevent battery drain caused by moisture with these steps:
- Open the battery door before you store your hearing aids
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for several days
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
Advanced modern features are power intensive
Modern digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But when these sophisticated features are in use, 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 replace the battery sooner.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added functions can drain your battery.
Batteries can be impacted by altitude changes
Your batteries can be quickly depleted when you have a quick climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. When flying, climbing, or skiing remember to bring some spares.
Is the battery 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 just a heads up. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity briefly causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm will sound.
Take the hearing aids out and reset them to quiet the alarm. You might be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
Wait until it’s time to use the battery before you remove the protective tab. Always wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to avoid getting hand oil or dirt on them. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other types of batteries.
Simple handling mistakes like these can make hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
Buying in bulk is often a smart money decision when you can afford it. But you can expect that the last several batteries in the pack will drain faster. It can be a waste to purchase any more than 6 months worth.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
We’re not claiming it’s automatically a bad idea to buy things on the internet. You can get some really good deals. But you will also come across some less honest vendors who will sell batteries that are near to or even past their expiration date.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have expiration dates. You wouldn’t buy milk without checking when it expires. The same goes with batteries. Make sure that the date is far enough in the future to get the most usage out of the pack.
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. Only buy batteries from trustworthy sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
Hearing aid batteries may drain faster for several reasons. But by taking small precautions you can get more energy out of each battery. You might also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re in the market for a new set. You will get an entire day of power after each night of recharging. The rechargeable batteries only have to be replaced every few years.