Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries drain way too quickly? Here are a few unexpected reasons that may occur.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? From 3 to 7 days is the standard period of time for charge to last.
That’s a very wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament.
You could be at the store on day 4. All of a sudden, you can’t hear anything. You can’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 conversation and it’s leaving you feeling rather alone.
Now, you’re at your grandchild’s school play. And the kid’s singing disappears. But it’s only day 2. Yes, they even sometimes die after a couple of days.
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.
Here are 7 likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Moisture can drain a battery
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that human beings do that most other species don’t. It’s a cooling system. You do it to get rid of excess sodium or toxins in the blood. Your battery could be exposed to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy setting.
The air vent in your device can become plugged by this extra moisture which can cause less efficient functionality. It can even kill the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity.
Here are a few steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for several days
- Open up the battery door before you store your hearing aids
- Keep your hearing aids in a place where moisture is minimum
- A dehumidifier is helpful
State-of-the-art hearing aid features can run down batteries
Current digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out just a decade ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not paying attention.
That doesn’t mean you should stop using 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.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra functions can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can impact batteries as well
Your batteries can be quickly depleted when you have a quick climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. When flying, skiing, or climbing remember to bring some spares.
Is the battery actually drained?
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is getting low. 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 dip and the low battery alarm gets triggered.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There may be hours or even days of power left.
Improper handling of batteries
Wait until it’s time 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. This may increase the life of other batteries but that’s not the case with hearing aid batteries.
Hearing aids will drain more quickly if you mishandle them in these ways.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
Purchasing in bulk is often a smart money decision when you can afford it. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries 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
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 even worse, it has already passed.
Most types of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. You wouldn’t buy milk without checking when it expires. You shouldn’t forget to check the date on batteries either. If you want to get the most out of your battery, be certain the date is well into the future.
If the website doesn’t state an expiration date, message the seller, or buy batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid store where you can see it on the packaging. Only buy batteries from reputable 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. And if you’re thinking of an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You put these hearing aids on a charger each night for a full day of hearing tomorrow. The rechargeable batteries only have to be replaced every few years.