Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain faster than they should? Here are a few surprising reasons that might happen.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The typical hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days.
That’s a very wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You could 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 it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer hear the conversation.
Now, you’re attending your grandchild’s school play. And the children’s singing disappears. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before the 3rd day.
It’s not just inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much power is left in your hearing aids.
If your hearing aid batteries drain too quickly, check out these seven possible culprits.
Moisture can drain a battery
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that humans do that the majority of other species don’t. You do it to cool down. It also cleans the blood of unwanted toxins and sodium. On top of this, you may live in a humid or rainy climate where things get even wetter.
The air vent in your device can become clogged by this excess moisture which can result in less efficient performance. It can even interact with the chemicals that generate electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Avoid battery drain related to moisture using these steps:
- Before going to bed, open the battery door
- Get a dehumidifier
- Store your hearing aids in a place where moisture is minimum
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for several days
State-of-the-art hearing aid functions can run down batteries
Current digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But these extra functions can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not watching.
Don’t stop using your favorite features. But be aware that the battery will drain faster if you spend hours streaming music from your cellphone to your hearing aids.
All these added features, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery faster.
Batteries can be affected by altitude changes
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a quick climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. Make sure you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on an aircraft.
Maybe the batteries aren’t really drained
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is low. As a general rule, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They aren’t telling you the battery is dead. Additionally, you may get a warning when the charge takes a dip due to an altitude or humidity change.
You can stop the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. You may be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Handling the batteries improperly
You shouldn’t remove the little tab from the battery if you’re not ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be a problem for batteries so wash up before you handle them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. This may extend the life of other batteries but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries.
Simple handling mistakes like these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
It’s often a wise financial choice to buy in bulk. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last few batteries most likely won’t last as long. It can be a waste to purchase any more than 6 months worth.
Buying hearing aid batteries from the internet
We’re not suggesting it’s automatically a bad idea to purchase things online. You can find a lot of bargains. But you will also find some less honest sellers who will sell batteries that are close to or even past their expiration date.
Most kinds of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. When you buy milk, you wouldn’t forget to look at the expiration date. You shouldn’t forget to check the date on batteries either. In order to get the most from your battery, be certain the date is well into the future.
If you buy your batteries at a hearing aid center or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the labeling, but if you’re going to shop on the internet be sure the seller states when the batteries will expire. Make sure you check reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a trustworthy source.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries may drain quickly. But you can get more power from each battery by taking small precautions. And if you’re considering an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You will get a full day of power after each night of recharging. Every few years, you will need to replace the rechargeable batteries.
