Do you feel like your hearing aid batteries are not keeping a charge as long as they should? The reasons for this are sometimes surprising. What is the average length of time that your hearing aid batteries should stay charged? The normal hearing aid battery should last 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 predicament. Things could suddenly go quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the grocery store after 4 days of battery power. Or maybe on day 5, you’re enjoying a conversation with friends when you suddenly feel really alone because you can’t hear what anyone is saying. Now, you’re watching TV. All of a sudden you can’t hear the news. Hold on, it’s only day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before that 3-day mark. It isn’t just annoying. You just can’t tell how much battery power you have left in your hearing aids and it’s making you miss out on life. Here are the likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Moisture Can Deplete a Battery
There aren’t many species that release moisture through their skin but humans do. We do it to cool down. It’s the body’s way of purging the blood of sodium and toxins. You may also live in a climate that’s moist and humid. The air vent in your hearing aid can become clogged by this added moisture and it will be less effective. It can even deplete the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals which generate electricity. Here are a few steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- When you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a number of days
- Moist conditions, like the kitchen or bathroom are not a good place to keep your hearing aids
- Get a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
Batteries Can be Drained by Advanced Hearing Aid Features
Modern digital hearing aids help people hear a lot better than ones that came out just 10 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 have to replace 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 sapped out if you go from low to high altitudes specifically if they are already low on juice. When flying, skiing or climbing always takes some extra batteries.
Are The Batteries Really Low?
Some models will give you an alert when the battery begins to get too low. Generally speaking, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. It doesn’t mean you have a depleted battery. Moreover, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude temporarily causes the charge to drop and the low battery alert gets activated. In order to stop the alarm, take the batteries out, and then put them back in. You might be able to get several more hours or possibly even days of battery life.
Improper Handling of Batteries
You should never remove the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Avoid getting skin oil and dirt on your hearing aid by cleaning your hands before handling them. Hearing aid batteries should not be frozen. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other types of batteries. Basic handling errors such as these can make hearing aid batteries drain more quickly.
It isn’t a Good Idea to Purchase a Year’s Supply of Batteries
Buying in bulk is typically a smart money move when you can afford to do it. But the last few batteries in the pack most likely won’t have full power. Try to stay with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with the waste.
Shopping For Hearing Aid Batteries on The Web
This isn’t a broad critique of buying stuff on the web. You can get some good deals. But some less honest people sell batteries on the internet that are very close to the expiration date. They might even be beyond their expiration date. So you need to be careful.
There’s an expiration date on both zinc and alkaline batteries. You shouldn’t buy milk without looking at the expiration date. You need to do that with batteries also. Make sure that the date is well in the future to get the most use out of the pack. If the website doesn’t specify an expiration date, message the vendor, or buy batteries from us. Make sure you know and trust the seller.
Now You Can Get Rechargeable Hearing Aids
There are several reasons that hearing batteries could drain rapidly. But by taking some precautions you can get more life from each battery. If you’re looking to buy a new set of hearing aids, you might decide on a rechargeable model. If you charge them while you sleep, you get a full day of hearing the next day. And you only have to replace them every few years.