Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries drain way too quickly? There are numerous reasons why this might be occurring that might be unexpected.
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 really wide range. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and could leave you in trouble.
You could be on day 4 at the supermarket store. Unexpectedly, things get quiet. You can’t hear the cashier.
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 rather alone.
Now, you’re at your grandson’s school play. You can no longer hear the children singing. But it’s only day 2. Yes, they even occasionally die after a couple of days.
It’s not just inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you don’t know how much juice is left in your hearing aids.
If your hearing aid batteries drain too quickly, look to these seven possible culprits.
Moisture can kill a battery
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that humans do that most other species don’t. You do it to cool down. It also cleans the blood of excess toxins and sodium. In addition, you might live in a humid or rainy environment where things get even wetter.
This extra moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making hearing aids less efficient. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that make electricity.
Here are a few steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- Before going to bed, open up the battery door
- Use a dehumidifier
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended time period, take out the batteries
State-of-the-art hearing aid functions can drain batteries
Current digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out only a decade ago. But these extra functions can cause batteries to drain more quickly if you’re not watching.
Don’t quit using your favorite 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.
All these extra 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, particularly if they’re on their last leg. Make sure you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on a plane.
Perhaps the batteries aren’t actually drained
Many hearing aids will warn 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. Additionally, you may get a warning when the charge takes a dip because of an altitude or humidity change.
You can stop the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There could be hours or even days of juice left.
Handling the batteries improperly
Wait until it’s time to use the battery before you remove the protective tab. Hand oil or dirt can be an issue for batteries so wash up before handling them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. This might increase the life of other batteries but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries.
Basic handling errors 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 purchase in bulk. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries most likely won’t last as long. It can be a waste to buy any more than a 6 month supply.
Online battery vendors
We’re not suggesting it’s always a bad idea to purchase things on the internet. You can find a lot of bargains. But you will also find 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. When you purchase milk, you wouldn’t forget to check the date it expires. You shouldn’t do that with batteries either. If you want 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 labeling, but if you are going to shop on the internet be sure the seller states when the batteries will expire. Only buy batteries from reliable sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
Hearing aid batteries might drain faster for numerous reasons. But by taking little 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 a full day of power after each night of recharging. The rechargeable batteries only have to be swapped out every few years.