Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries die way too fast? Here are some surprising reasons that might happen.
So how long should the charge on my hearing aid battery last? From 3 to 7 days is the standard period of time for charge to last.
That’s a very wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You might be on day 4 at the grocery store. Unexpectedly, your sound cuts out. The cashier is talking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer hear the conversation.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. You can no longer hear the children singing. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before that 3-day mark.
It’s not just inconvenient. You have no clue how much power is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 likely causes if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Moisture can kill a battery
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that human beings do that the majority of other species don’t. It’s a cooling mechanism. It also helps clear the blood of unwanted toxins and sodium. In addition, you may live in a rainy humid environment where things get even wetter.
This extra moisture can clog the air vent in your device, affecting the hearing aid’s efficiency. It can even interact with the chemicals that make electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Avoid battery drain caused by moisture using these steps:
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- Open the battery door before you store your hearing aids
- A dehumidifier is helpful
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for a few days
Advanced hearing aid functions can run down batteries
Current digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out just a decade ago. But these added functions can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not watching.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use these amazing features. But be aware that the battery will die faster if you spend hours 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
Your batteries can be quickly depleted when you have a quick climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is especially true. When flying, skiing, or climbing remember to bring some spares.
Is the battery really drained?
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is getting low. These warnings, as a general rule, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re simply a heads up. In addition, you might get a warning when the charge takes a dip because of an altitude or humidity change.
Take out the hearing aids and reset them to stop the alarm. You might be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
You shouldn’t pull off the little tab from the battery before you’re 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 it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries.
Hearing aids will drain faster if you mishandle them in these ways.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
It’s usually a wise financial decision to buy in bulk. But you can expect that the last few batteries in the pack won’t last as long. It can be a waste to buy any more than 6 months worth.
Buying hearing aid batteries from the internet
We’re not saying it’s automatically a bad idea to purchase things on the internet. You can get some great deals. But some less scrupulous people will sell batteries online that are very near to the expiration date. Or worse, it has already gone by.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc 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 the website doesn’t state an expiration date, message the seller, or buy batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid store where you can see it on the packaging. Only buy batteries from reliable sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
Hearing aid batteries might drain faster for several reasons. But you can get more power from each battery by taking small precautions. And if you’re thinking of an upgrade, consider rechargeable hearing aids. You dock these hearing aids on a charger each night for a full day of hearing tomorrow. The rechargeable batteries only have to be replaced every few years.