Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries lose their charge too fast? Here are a few unexpected reasons that could occur.What is the average amount of time that your hearing aid batteries should keep a charge? The ordinary hearing aid battery should last between 3 and 7 days. That’s a very wide range. So wide, actually, that it’s unpredictable and puts you in a serious predicament. Things could suddenly go quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the supermarket after 4 days of battery power. Or maybe on day 5, you’re enjoying a conversation with friends when you suddenly feel really alone because you can’t hear what anyone is saying. Now, you’re watching the TV. You can no longer hear the news. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before that 3-day mark. It isn’t just inconvenient. You just can’t tell how much battery power your hearing aids have left and it’s causing you to miss out on life. Here are the most likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain too soon.
Moisture Can Drain a Battery
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that release moisture through their skin? We do it to cool down. We do it to get rid of excess toxins or sodium in the blood. In addition, you may live in a rainy or humid climate where things get even more moist. This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making it less effective. Moisture can also mix with the chemicals of the battery causing it to drain faster. You can prevent moisture-related battery drainage with these steps:
- if your storing them for several days or more, take the batteries out
- Get a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other damp environments
- Open the battery door when you store the hearing aids
Advanced Hearing Aid Functions Can Run Down Batteries
You get a much better hearing aid nowadays than you did even a decade ago. But if you’re not keeping your eye on them, these advanced functions can cause faster battery drain. You can still use your favorite features. But just know that if you stream music for hours from your mobile device to your hearing aids, you’ll have to replace the battery sooner. Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added features can drain your battery.
Batteries Can be Impacted by Altitude Changes
Moving from a low to high altitude can deplete your batteries, especially if they’re on their last leg. Bring some spare batteries if you are going on a plane or high up into the mountains.
Are The Batteries Really Low?
Some models will give you an alert when the battery starts to get too low. Generally, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. Additionally, the charge can at times dip briefly due to altitude or environmental changes and that can trigger a false low battery warning. Take the hearing aids out and reset them to stop the alarm. You might be able to get a few more hours or possibly even days out of that battery.
Improper Handling of Batteries
You should never remove the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Make sure you wash your hands before touching your hearing aids or batteries to protect against getting dirt or hand oil on them. Hearing aid batteries should never be frozen. It doesn’t extend their life as it could with other kinds of batteries. Hearing aid batteries may lose battery power quicker if you make these basic handling mistakes.
Purchasing a Year’s Supply of Batteries Isn’t a Good Plan
If you can afford to do it, buying in bulk can be a smart idea. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last few batteries likely won’t last as long. Unless you don’t mind wasting a few, try to stay with a six month supply.
Purchasing Hearing Aid Batteries Online
Shopping from the web can be a good thing. You can get some great deals. But some batteries that you can find online are being sold by less honest individuals and are close to their expiration date. Or worse, it has already passed. So buyer beware.
There’s an expiration date on both zinc and alkaline batteries. If you were going to buy milk, you would check the expiration date. You should do that with batteries too. Be certain that the date is not close to the expiration to get the most use out of the pack. If the website doesn’t specify an expiration date, message the vendor, or purchase batteries from us. Only buy batteries from reliable sources.
Modern Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
Hearing aids may drain too rapidly for several reasons. But you can get more power out of your batteries by taking some precautions. If you’re looking to buy a new pair of hearing aids, you might consider a rechargeable model. You dock them on a charger each night for a full day of hearing the next day. And you only need to replace them every few years.