Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries drain way too quickly? Here are some unexpected reasons that may happen.
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. Out of the blue, 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 lunch with friends on day 5. All of a sudden, you can’t follow the discussion and it’s leaving you feeling quite alone.
Now, you’re at your grandchild’s school play. And the kid’s singing goes quiet. But it’s only day 2. Yes, they even occasionally drain after a couple of days.
It’s more than inconvenient. You’re losing out on life because you’re not sure how much power is left in your hearing aids.
If your hearing aid batteries drain too quickly, check out these seven possible causes.
Moisture can drain a battery
Did you realize that human beings are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling system. You do it to get rid of excess sodium or toxins in the blood. On top of this, you might live in a rainy humid 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 kill the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity.
Avoid battery drain caused by moisture with these steps:
- Get a dehumidifier
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for a few days
- Open the battery door before storing the hearing aids
State-of-the-art hearing aid functions can drain batteries
Current digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But these added functions can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not watching.
Don’t stop using your favorite features. But just know that if you stream music all day from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to replace the battery sooner.
All these added functions, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery faster.
Batteries can be impacted by altitude changes
Going from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, particularly if they’re on their last leg. When flying, climbing, or skiing always takes some spares.
Perhaps the batteries aren’t actually drained
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is low. These warnings, as a general rule, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re simply a heads up. Moreover, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude temporarily causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm gets triggered.
Take the hearing aids out and reset them to quiet the alarm. You might be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Handling the batteries improperly
Wait until you’re ready to use the battery before you remove the protective tab. Hand oil or dirt can be an issue for batteries so wash up before you handle them. Keep your batteries out of the freezer. It doesn’t increase their life as it might with other kinds of batteries.
Hearing aids will drain more quickly if you mishandle them in these ways.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
It’s often a wise financial decision to buy in bulk. 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 a 6 month supply.
Buying hearing aid batteries from the internet
We’re not suggesting it’s necessarily a bad idea to buy things online. You can find a lot of bargains. But you will also come across some less honest sellers who will sell batteries that are close to or even past their expiration date.
Most kinds of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. You wouldn’t purchase milk without checking when it expires. The same goes with batteries. In order to get the most out of your battery, be certain the date is well into the future.
If the website doesn’t declare an expiration date, send the online vendor a message, or buy batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid center where you can see it on the box. Only purchase batteries from reputable sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
Hearing aid batteries may drain faster for numerous reasons. But you can get more power from each battery by taking small precautions. You might also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new pair. You dock these hearing aids on a charger each night for a full day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only need to be swapped out every few years.