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.
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 might be on day 4 at the supermarket store. Out of the blue, you can’t hear anything. You can’t hear the cashier.
Or, you’re out for dinner with friends on day 5. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear the conversation.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. You can no longer hear the children singing. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before that 3-day mark.
It isn’t simply 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, check out these seven possible culprits.
Your Battery can be drained by moisture
Releasing moisture through our skin is one thing that humans do that the majority of other species don’t. It’s a cooling mechanism. It also cleans the blood of excess toxins and sodium. Your battery may be subjected to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy place.
This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, affecting the hearing aid’s efficiency. It can even interact with the chemicals that generate electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Prevent battery drain related to moisture with these steps:
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended period of time, remove the batteries
- Use a dehumidifier
- Before going to bed, open the battery door
State-of-the-art hearing aid functions can drain batteries
Modern digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out only 10 years ago. But these added functions can cause batteries to drain more quickly if you’re not paying attention.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use these amazing features. But be aware that the battery will drain faster if you spend all day streaming music from your cellphone to your hearing aids.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra functions can drain your battery.
Batteries can be impacted by altitude changes
Going from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, especially if they’re on their last leg. When flying, skiing, or climbing always takes some spares.
Maybe the batteries aren’t actually drained
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be replaced. These warnings, generally speaking, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re just a heads up. 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. You may be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
You should never remove the little tab from the battery if you’re not ready to use it. Make sure you wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries so you don’t get hand oil or dirt on them. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. It doesn’t increase their life as it might with other kinds of batteries.
Hearing aids will drain faster if you mishandle them in these ways.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
Purchasing in bulk is usually a smart money decision when you can afford to do it. But you can anticipate 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 broad critique of buying things online. You can get some really good deals. But some less honest individuals will sell batteries on the internet that are very close to the expiration date. Or worse, it has already passed.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have expiration dates. When you buy milk, you wouldn’t forget to check the expiration date. You shouldn’t forget to check the date on batteries either. Be certain that the date is far enough in the future to get the most use out of the pack.
If the website doesn’t declare an expiration date, send the online vendor a message, or purchase batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid center where you can see it on the box. Only buy batteries from reputable sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
Hearing aid batteries may drain more quickly for numerous reasons. But by taking little precautions you can get more power out of each battery. And if you’re thinking of an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You put these hearing aids on a charger each night for an entire day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only have to be replaced every few years.