Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die quicker than they ought to? There are numerous reasons why this may be taking place that might be unexpected.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The standard hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days.
That’s a really wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You may be at market on day 4. All of a sudden, you can’t hear anything. The cashier is speaking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or, you’re out for dinner with friends on day 5. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer follow what your friends are saying.
Now, you’re attending your grandson’s school play. And the children’s singing goes quiet. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before the 3rd day.
It isn’t just inconvenient. You have no clue how much power is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 possible culprits if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Your Battery can be killed by moisture
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that human beings do that most other species don’t. You do it to cool down. You do it to get rid of extra sodium or toxins in the blood. In addition, you might live in a humid or rainy climate where things get even wetter.
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 generate electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Here are several steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- Get a dehumidifier
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended period of time, remove the batteries
- Open up the battery door before storing the hearing aids
Advanced hearing aid features can run down batteries
Modern digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out just a decade ago. But when these advanced features are in use, they can be a draw on battery power.
Don’t stop 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.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra functions can drain your battery.
Batteries can be impacted by altitude changes
Going from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, particularly if they’re low already. Make sure you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on a plane.
Maybe the batteries aren’t really 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 simply a heads up. Additionally, you might get a warning when the charge takes a dip because of an altitude or humidity change.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. You might be able to get several more hours or even days out of that battery.
Incorrect handling of batteries
Wait until you’re ready to use the battery before you pull off the protective tab. Make sure you 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. It doesn’t increase their life as it might with other types of 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 choice when you can afford it. But you can expect that the last several batteries in the pack won’t last as long. It can be a waste to buy any more than a 6 month supply.
Online battery vendors
We’re not claiming it’s automatically a bad idea to purchase things online. You can find lots of bargains. But some less honest people will sell batteries online that are very close to the expiration date. Or even worse, it has already gone by.
Most kinds of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. You wouldn’t buy milk without looking at when it expires. You shouldn’t do that with batteries either. Make sure that the date is far enough in the future to get the most usage out of the pack.
If you buy your batteries at a hearing aid store or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the packaging, but if you’re going to shop online make sure the vendor states when the batteries will expire. Only buy batteries from reputable sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no longer
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries could drain quickly. But by taking small precautions you can get more power out of each battery. And if you’re considering an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You put these hearing aids on a charger each night for a full day of hearing tomorrow. Every few years, you will have to replace the rechargeable batteries.