Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain faster than they ought to? Here are some surprising reasons that might happen.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? From 3 to 7 days is the typical period of time 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 might be on day 4 at the supermarket store. Out of the blue, 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. All of a sudden, you can’t hear the discussion and it’s leaving you feeling rather alone.
Maybe you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. You can no longer hear the children singing. But it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before the 3rd day.
It’s more than inconvenient. You’re losing out on life because you’re not sure 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 drain a battery
Did you realize that human beings are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? You do it to cool down. It also helps clear the blood of excess toxins and sodium. In addition, you may live in a humid or rainy environment where things get even wetter.
This extra moisture can clog up the air vent in your device, making hearing aids less efficient. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that generate electricity.
Here are several steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Before going to bed, open up the battery door
- A dehumidifier is helpful
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a few days
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
Advanced hearing aid features can run down batteries
Even 10 years ago, hearing aids were much less helpful for people with hearing loss than current devices. But these added functions can cause batteries to drain more quickly if you’re not watching.
Don’t quit using your favorite features. But be aware that the battery will die faster if you spend all day streaming music from your phone to your hearing aids.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added features can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can impact batteries too
Going from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, especially if they’re low already. When flying, climbing, or skiing always takes some spares.
Is the battery actually 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 drops due to an altitude or humidity change.
Take the hearing aids out and reset them to stop the alarm. You may be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Incorrect handling of batteries
Wait until you’re ready to use the battery before you pull off the protective tab. Always wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to avoid getting hand oil or dirt on them. Keep your batteries out of the freezer. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other types of batteries.
Simple handling mistakes like these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
Buying a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a good idea
Buying in bulk is usually a smart money choice when you can afford to do it. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last few batteries likely won’t last as long. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with the waste.
Online battery vendors
We’re not suggesting it’s necessarily a bad idea to buy things on the internet. 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.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have expiration dates. When you buy milk, you wouldn’t forget to look at the date it expires. The same goes with batteries. Make sure that the date is well in the future to get the most usage 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 purchase batteries from reliable sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries could drain quickly. But you can get more energy from each battery by taking little precautions. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new pair. You will get an entire day of power after each night of recharging. Every few years, you will need to change the rechargeable batteries.
