Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries lose their charge too quickly? The reasons for this can be sometimes unexpected.What is the average amount of time that your hearing aid batteries should stay charged? The ordinary hearing aid battery lasts between 3 and 7 days. That’s a really wide range. So wide, actually, that it’s unpredictable and puts you in a challenging predicament. Things could suddenly get quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the grocery store after 4 days of battery power. Or perhaps on day 5, you’re enjoying a conversation with friends when you unexpectedly feel really alone because you can’t hear what anyone is saying. Occasionally the batteries don’t even make 3 days. Like when you’re watching TV on day 2 and suddenly you can’t hear the show your watching. It isn’t just annoying. You’re missing out on life because you don’t know how much juice you have left in your hearing aids. If your hearing aid batteries are draining too quickly, there are several likely causes.
Moisture Can Drain a Battery
Did you realize that humans are one of the few species that release moisture through their skin? We do it to cool off. It’s the body’s way of purging the blood of toxins and sodium. You may also live in a climate that is humid and moist. This additional 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 avoid moisture-related battery drainage with these measures:
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other damp environments
- A dehumidifier for your hearing aid is beneficial
- Before you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- if your storing them for a few days or more, take the batteries out
Advanced Hearing Aid Functions Can Drain Batteries
You get a much better hearing aid today than you did even a decade ago. But if you’re not paying attention, these advanced functions can cause faster battery drain. Don’t stop using your favorite features. But be aware that if you stream music for hours from your mobile device to your hearing aids, you’ll have to replace the battery sooner. Your battery can be drained by any of the advanced functions, like multichannel, Bluetooth, noise cancellation, and tinnitus relief.
Batteries Can be Affected by Altitude Changes
Going from a low to high altitude can deplete your batteries, specifically if they’re on their older. When skiing, flying or climbing always takes some extra batteries.
Are The Batteries Really Low?
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is running low. These warnings are, ordinarily, a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. Furthermore, the charge can sometimes drop briefly due to altitude or environmental changes and that can cause a false low battery warning. Remove the hearing aids and reset them to end the alarm. The battery might last a few more hours or even days.
Improper Handling of Batteries
Wait until you’re ready to use your hearing aid to remove the tab from the battery. Avoid getting dirt and skin oil on your hearing aid by cleaning your hands before handling them. Hearing aid batteries should never be frozen. This strategy might increase the life of some kinds of battery but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries. Hearing aid batteries might lose battery power faster if you make these basic handling errors.
Purchasing a Year’s Supply of Batteries Isn’t a Very Good Plan
Buying in bulk is usually a smart money decision if you can afford to do it. But the last few batteries in the pack probably won’t have full power. Unless you’re fine with wasting a few, try to stay with a six month supply.
Purchasing Hearing Aid Batteries on The Web
Shopping from the web can be a good thing. You can get some good deals. But some less honest people sell batteries on the internet that are very near to the expiration date. They might even be beyond their expiration date. So you need to be cautious.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have a date they will expire. If you were going to buy milk, you would look at the expiration date. You need to do that with batteries also. Make sure that the date is not close to the expiration so that you can get the most use out of the pack. It’s probably a smart idea to message the vendor if you don’t see an expiration date or even better, come see us for your battery needs. Be sure you know and trust the seller.
Current Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
Hearing aids might drain too quickly for numerous reasons. But by taking some precautions you can get more energy out of each battery. If you’re in the market for a new set of hearing aids, you might decide on a rechargeable model. If you charge them while you sleep, you get a full day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only have to be changed every few years.