Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die quicker than they ought to? Here are a few surprising reasons that may happen.
So how long should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? The standard hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days.
That’s a really wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You may be at the store on day 4. Unexpectedly, things get quiet. The cashier is speaking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or, you’re out for lunch with friends on day 5. All of a sudden, you can’t follow the conversation and it’s leaving you feeling quite alone.
Maybe you go to your grandchild’s school to watch a play. You can no longer hear the children singing. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, they even occasionally drain after a couple of days.
It’s more than inconvenient. You have no clue how much power is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
If your hearing aid batteries drain too quickly, look to these seven possible culprits.
Your Battery can be killed by moisture
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that humans do that most other species don’t. It’s a cooling mechanism. You do it to remove excess sodium or toxins in the blood. Your battery may be subjected to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy setting.
The air vent in your device can get clogged by this excess moisture which can result in less efficient functionality. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity.
Here are a few steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Get a dehumidifier
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a few days
- Keep your hearing aids in a place where moisture is minimum
- Open up the battery door before storing the hearing aids
State-of-the-art hearing aid features can drain batteries
Even 10 years ago, hearing aids were a lot less helpful for individuals with hearing loss than current devices. But when these sophisticated functions are being used, they can be a draw on battery power.
Don’t quit using your favorite features. But be aware that the battery will drain faster if you spend hours streaming music from your phone to your hearing aids.
All these added features, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery more quickly.
Altitude changes can affect batteries too
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, especially if they’re low already. Make sure you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on a plane.
Is the battery actually drained?
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be changed. Generally, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. Moreover, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude temporarily causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm gets triggered.
You can stop the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There may be hours or even days of juice left.
Incorrect handling of batteries
Wait until it’s time to use the battery before you remove the protective tab. Hand oil or dirt can be a problem for batteries so wash up before handling them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. This may extend the life of other batteries but that’s not the case with hearing aid batteries.
Basic handling mistakes like these can make hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
It’s usually a practical financial choice to buy in bulk. But you can expect 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.
Buying hearing aid batteries from the internet
This isn’t a general criticism of buying things on the internet. You can find a lot of bargains. But some less scrupulous individuals will sell batteries online that are very near to the expiration date. Or even worse, it has already passed.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. When you buy milk, you wouldn’t forget to check the date it expires. You shouldn’t do that with batteries either. Make sure that the date is well in the future to get the most use out of the pack.
If you buy your batteries at a hearing aid center or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the packaging, but if you’re going to shop on the internet make sure the vendor specifies when the batteries will expire. Make sure you look for reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a trustworthy source.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
Hearing aid batteries might drain faster for several reasons. But by taking little precautions you can get more energy out of each battery. And if you’re considering an upgrade, consider rechargeable hearing aids. You dock these hearing aids on a charger each night for a full day of hearing tomorrow. Every few years, you will need to change the rechargeable batteries.