Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries die way too quickly? Here are some surprising reasons that might occur.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? From 3 to 7 days is the standard period of time for charge to last.
That’s a very wide range. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and might leave you in trouble.
You may be at the store on day 4. All of a sudden, you can’t hear anything. The cashier is talking to you but you don’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 the conversation.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to watch a play. You can no longer hear the kids singing. But it’s only day 2. Yes, they even sometimes die after a couple of days.
It’s more than annoying. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much juice is left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Your Battery can be killed by moisture
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 get rid of extra sodium or toxins in the blood. Your battery could be subjected to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy place.
This extra moisture can clog up the air vent in your device, making hearing aids less efficient. It can even interact with the chemicals that make electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Here are a few steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Before you go to bed, open up the battery door
- Get a dehumidifier
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for several days
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
Advanced hearing aid functions can run down batteries
Current digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But these added functions can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not watching.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use these amazing 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 added functions, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery more quickly.
Altitude changes can affect batteries as well
Going from a low to high altitude can deplete your batteries, particularly if they’re on their last leg. Make sure you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on an aircraft.
Maybe the batteries aren’t actually drained
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is getting low. These warnings, generally speaking, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re simply a heads up. Additionally, you may get a warning when the charge drops due to an altitude or humidity change.
Take out the hearing aids and reset them to stop the alarm. There could be hours or even days of power left.
Improper handling of batteries
You should never remove 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 handling them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t increase their life as it might with other types of batteries.
Hearing aids will drain more quickly if you mishandle them in these ways.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
It’s usually a practical financial choice to buy in bulk. But you can anticipate that the last few batteries in the pack will drain faster. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
internet battery vendors
We’re not suggesting it’s necessarily a bad idea to buy things online. You can find lots of bargains. But some less scrupulous individuals will sell batteries online that are very near to the expiration date. Or worse, it has already passed.
Most kinds of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. When you purchase milk, you wouldn’t forget to check the date it expires. The same goes with batteries. In order to get the most from your battery, make sure the date is well into the future.
If you buy your batteries at a hearing aid store or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the packaging, but if you are going to shop on the internet be sure the vendor specifies when the batteries will expire. Only buy batteries from reputable sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
Hearing aid batteries may drain more quickly for numerous reasons. But by taking small precautions you can get more power out of each battery. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new pair. You put these hearing aids on a charger every night for a full day of hearing tomorrow. Every few years, you will have to replace the rechargeable batteries.