Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries drain way too quickly? Here are some surprising reasons that could occur. What is the average amount of time that your hearing aid batteries should stay charged? The typical hearing aid battery lasts between 3 and 7 days. That range is pretty wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a challenging predicament. You may be on day 4 at the grocery store when suddenly, things get quiet and you’re unable to hear the cashier. Or it’s day 5 and you’re having a call with friends when all of a sudden you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer hear the conversation. Sometimes the batteries don’t even make that 3 day mark. Like when you’re watching TV on day 2 and all of a sudden you can’t hear the show your that’s on. It isn’t just annoying. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much juice you have left in your hearing aids. Here are the most likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain too soon.
A Battery Can be Depleted by Moisture
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that release moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling mechanism. We do it to get rid of excess toxins or sodium in the blood. In addition, you might live in a humid or rainy climate where things get even wetter. The air vent in your hearing aid can become clogged by this extra moisture and it will be less reliable. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals which produce electricity. You can avoid moisture-related battery drainage with these steps:
- When you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- Obtain a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
- Moist conditions, like the kitchen or bathroom aren’t a good place to keep your hearing aids
- if your storing them for a few days or more, remove the batteries
Advanced Hearing Aid Functions Can Drain Batteries
Modern digital hearing aids help people hear a lot better than ones that you could get just a decade ago. But if you’re not paying attention, these advanced functions can cause faster battery drain. You can still use your favorite features. But remember, you will need to switch out the battery sooner if you are streaming music from your phone all day. 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 particularly if they are already low on juice. Take some spare batteries if you are going on a plane or high up into the mountains.
Maybe The Batteries Aren’t Really Low
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is low. These warnings are, under normal circumstances, a “heads up”. They’re not actually saying the battery is depleted. Additionally, the charge can occasionally dip temporarily due to altitude or environmental changes and that can cause a false low battery warning. Take the hearing aids out and reset them to stop the alarm. The battery may last a few more hours or even days.
Handling Batteries Improperly
Wait until you’re about to use your hearing aid to remove the tab from the battery. Avoid getting skin oil and dirt on your hearing aid by cleaning your hands before handling them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. This strategy might increase the life of some kinds of battery but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries. Basic handling mistakes like these can make hearing aid batteries drain more quickly.
It’s Not a Good Idea to Buy a Year’s Supply of Batteries
Buying in bulk is often a smart money decision when you can afford to do it. But as you come to the end of the pack, the last few batteries likely won’t last as long. Try to stay with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with wasting a few.
Shopping For Hearing Aid Batteries Online
This isn’t a broad critique of buying things on the internet. You can get some great deals. But some less honest people sell batteries on the internet that are very near to the expiration date. They might even be past 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 checking the expiration date. You should do that with batteries too. Be sure that the date is well in the future so that you can get the most use out of the pack. It’s probably a smart idea to message the vendor if there isn’t an expiration date or better yet, come see us for your battery needs. Only purchase batteries from reputable sources.
Modern Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
There are a number of reasons that hearing batteries could drain rapidly. But you can get more life from your batteries by taking some precautions. You may also think about rechargeable hearing aids if you’re in the market for a new set. If you charge them at night, you get a full day of hearing the next day. And you only need to change them every few years.