Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries drain way too fast? Here are a few unexpected reasons that may occur.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? From 3 to 7 days is the typical amount of time for charge to last.
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 market on day 4. Out of the blue, you can’t hear anything. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear what your friends are saying.
Now, you’re attending your grandson’s school play. And the kid’s singing goes quiet. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before the 3rd day.
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.
If your hearing aid batteries die too quickly, look to these seven possible culprits.
Moisture can drain a battery
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that human beings do that most other species don’t. It’s a cooling mechanism. You do it to eliminate excess sodium or toxins in the blood. On top of this, you may live in a humid or rainy environment where things get even wetter.
The air vent in your device can become clogged by this extra moisture which can result in less efficient functionality. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that generate electricity.
Here are several steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
- Before going to bed, open up the battery door
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for several days
Advanced hearing aid functions can run down batteries
Current digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out just a decade ago. But when these advanced features are being used, they can be a draw on battery power.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use these amazing features. But just know that if you stream music for hours from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to change the battery sooner.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra functions can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can impact batteries as well
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, especially if they’re low already. Be certain that you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on a plane.
Maybe the batteries aren’t 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 aren’t telling you the battery is dead. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity temporarily causes the charge to drop and the low battery alarm will sound.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There may be hours or even days of juice left.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
You should never pull off the little tab from the battery if you’re not ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be an issue for batteries so wash up before you handle 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.
Purchasing a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a good idea
It’s usually a wise financial choice to buy in bulk. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries likely won’t last as long. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
internet battery vendors
We’re not claiming it’s automatically a bad idea to purchase things online. You can get some really good deals. 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. You wouldn’t buy milk without checking when it expires. You shouldn’t forget to check the date on batteries either. In order to get the most out of your battery, be certain the date is well into the future.
If the website doesn’t declare an expiration date, message the seller, or purchase batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid store where you can see it on the packaging. Make sure you check reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a reliable source.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries could drain quickly. But by taking small precautions you can get more energy from each battery. And if you’re thinking of an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You dock these hearing aids on a charger every night for an entire day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only need to be swapped out every few years.