Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain quicker than they should? There are several reasons why this may be occurring that may be surprising.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The typical hearing aid battery lasts anywhere between 3 and 7 days.
That’s a really wide range. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and could leave you in trouble.
You could be at market on day 4. Suddenly, things get quiet. The cashier is speaking to you but you don’t hear what they are saying.
Or it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear what your friends are saying.
Now, you’re attending your grandson’s school play. And the kid’s singing disappears. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, occasionally they even drain before that 3-day mark.
It’s not just inconvenient. You have no idea how much juice is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 possible causes if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Your Battery can be killed by moisture
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that humans do that most other species don’t. You do it to cool down. It also cleans the blood of excess toxins and sodium. Your battery may be exposed to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy setting.
The air vent in your device can get clogged by this extra moisture which can result in less efficient functionality. It can even kill the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity.
Here are a few steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- Open up the battery door before storing the hearing aids
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended period of time, take out the batteries
- A dehumidifier is helpful
Advanced hearing aid functions can run down batteries
Current digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But when these advanced features are being used, they can be a drain on battery power.
Don’t quit 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.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added features can drain your battery.
Batteries can be affected by altitude changes
Going from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, especially if they’re low already. When flying, climbing, or skiing remember to bring some spares.
Perhaps the batteries aren’t actually drained
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be replaced. Generally, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. Additionally, you might get a warning when the charge drops because of an altitude or humidity change.
You can stop the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. You may be able to get several more hours or even days out of that battery.
Handling the batteries improperly
You should never remove the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be a problem for batteries so wash up before handling 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 faster if you mishandle them in these ways.
Purchasing a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a great idea
Buying 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 several batteries likely won’t last as long. It can be a waste to purchase any more than 6 months worth.
internet battery vendors
We’re not saying it’s always a bad idea to buy things on the internet. You can get some great deals. But some less honest people will sell batteries on the internet that are very near to the expiration date. Or worse, it has already passed.
Most types of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. When you buy milk, you wouldn’t forget to check the expiration date. The same goes with batteries. In order to get the most from your battery, be certain the date is well into the future.
If the website doesn’t declare an expiration date, message the seller, or purchase batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid store where you can see it on the box. Only buy batteries from trustworthy sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries may 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 will get an entire day of power after every night of recharging. The rechargeable batteries only need to be replaced every few years.
