Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain faster than they ought to? There are numerous reasons why this may be occurring that may be surprising.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? From 3 to 7 days is the standard time-frame for charge to last.
That range is rather wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament.
You could be on day 4 at the supermarket store. All of a sudden, you can’t hear anything. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. All of a sudden, you can’t hear the discussion and it’s leaving you feeling quite alone.
Now, you’re attending your grandchild’s school play. You can no longer hear the kids singing. But it’s only day 2. Yes, occasionally they even drain before that 3-day mark.
It’s more than inconvenient. You have no idea how much power is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Moisture can drain a battery
Releasing moisture through our skin is one thing that humans do that most other species don’t. It’s a cooling mechanism. It also helps clear 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, affecting the hearing aid’s efficiency. It can even kill the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that generate electricity.
Avoid battery drain related to moisture using these steps:
- Use a dehumidifier
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a few days
- Keep your hearing aids in a place where moisture is minimum
- Open the battery door before storing the hearing aids
State-of-the-art hearing aid features can run down batteries
Current digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out only 10 years ago. But when these sophisticated functions are in use, they can be a drain 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 replace the battery sooner.
All these extra functions, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery faster.
Altitude changes can impact batteries as well
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, especially if they’re on their last leg. When flying, climbing, or skiing always takes some spares.
Perhaps the batteries aren’t really drained
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is low. Generally, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They aren’t telling you the battery is dead. In addition, you may get a warning when the charge takes a dip because of an altitude or humidity change.
Take out the hearing aids and reset them to quiet the alarm. You might be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Handling the batteries improperly
You shouldn’t 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 handling them. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other types of batteries.
Hearing aids will drain more quickly if you mishandle them in these ways.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
Buying in bulk is usually a smart money decision when you can afford it. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last few batteries likely won’t last as long. It can be a waste to buy any more than a 6 month supply.
Buying hearing aid batteries from the internet
We’re not suggesting it’s necessarily a bad idea to buy things on the internet. You can find lots of bargains. But some less honest individuals will sell batteries online that are very near to the expiration date. Or even worse, it has already gone by.
Most kinds of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. You wouldn’t purchase milk without checking when it expires. The same goes with batteries. In order to get the most from your battery, be certain the date is well into the future.
If the website doesn’t state 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. Make sure you check reviews to be certain you’re buying from a reliable source.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no longer
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries could drain quickly. But you can get more power from each battery by taking little precautions. And if you’re considering an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You put these hearing aids on a charger every night for a full day of hearing the next day. Every few years, you will need to replace the rechargeable batteries.
