Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain quicker than they ought to? There are numerous reasons why this may be taking place that might be surprising.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The typical hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days.
That range is fairly wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You could be on day 4 at the grocery store. Out of the blue, you can’t hear anything. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or, you’re out for lunch with friends on day 5. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear what your friends are saying.
Now, you’re at your grandson’s school play. And the kid’s singing goes quiet. But it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before the 3rd day.
It’s more than annoying. 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 die too quickly, look to these seven possible causes.
Moisture can kill a battery
Did you know that human beings are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? You do it to cool down. You do it to remove extra sodium or toxins in the blood. Your battery may be exposed to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy place.
This excess moisture can clog up the air vent in your device, affecting the hearing aid’s efficiency. It can even interact with the chemicals that produce electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Avoid battery drain caused by moisture with these steps:
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- Before you go to bed, open up the battery door
- A dehumidifier is helpful
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended period of time, remove the batteries
Advanced hearing aid features can drain batteries
Even a decade 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 paying attention.
Don’t quit using your favorite features. But be aware that the battery will drain faster if you spend all day streaming music from your cellphone to your hearing aids.
All these added functions, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery more quickly.
Altitude changes can affect batteries too
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a quick climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. Be certain that you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on a plane.
Is the battery actually drained?
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is getting low. As a general rule, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. Additionally, you might get a warning when the charge takes a dip due to 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 out of that battery.
Handling the batteries improperly
You shouldn’t remove the little tab from the battery if you’re not ready to use it. Always wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to avoid getting hand oil or dirt on them. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. This might 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 to do it. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last few batteries most likely won’t last as long. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
This isn’t a general criticism of buying stuff online. You can find a lot of bargains. But some less scrupulous people will sell batteries online that are very close to the expiration date. Or even worse, it has already passed.
Most kinds of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. When you buy milk, you wouldn’t forget to check the expiration date. You shouldn’t forget to check the date on batteries either. Make sure that the date is well in the future to get the most usage out of the pack.
If you purchase your batteries at a hearing aid center or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the packaging, but if you are going to shop online be sure the seller states when the batteries will expire. Only purchase batteries from reliable sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries could drain quickly. But by taking small precautions you can get more energy from each battery. And if you’re considering an upgrade, consider rechargeable hearing aids. You put these hearing aids on a charger every night for an entire day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only have to be replaced every few years.