Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries drain way too quickly? Here are a few surprising reasons that may occur.
So how long should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? From 3 to 7 days is the typical time-frame for charge to last.
That range is rather wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament.
You might be on day 4 at the grocery store. Out of the blue, you can’t hear anything. You can’t hear the cashier.
Or, you’re out for lunch with friends on day 5. All of a sudden, you can’t hear the discussion and it’s leaving you feeling rather alone.
Maybe you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. And the children’s singing goes quiet. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, they even occasionally drain after a couple of days.
It isn’t only 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 kill a battery
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 remove extra sodium or toxins in the blood. Your battery may be exposed to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy setting.
This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making hearing aids less efficient. It can even interact with the chemicals that produce electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Avoid battery drain caused by moisture with these steps:
- Open the battery door before storing the hearing aids
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for a few days
- Store your hearing aids in a spot where moisture is at a minimum
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
Advanced hearing aid features can run down batteries
Even 10 years ago, hearing aids were a lot less helpful for individuals with hearing loss than modern devices. But these added features can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not paying attention.
That doesn’t mean you should stop using these amazing features. But just know that if you stream music all day from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to change 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
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a rapid 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 tell you when the battery is getting low. Generally, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. Moreover, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity briefly causes the charge to drop and the low battery alarm gets triggered.
Take out the hearing aids and reset them to quiet the alarm. There could be hours or even days of juice left.
Handling the batteries improperly
Wait until it’s time to use the battery before you remove the protective tab. Hand oil or dirt can be a problem for batteries so wash up before handling them. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. This might extend the life of other batteries but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries.
Basic handling errors like these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
Buying a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a good idea
It’s usually a wise financial decision to buy in bulk. But you can anticipate that the last several batteries in the pack will drain faster. It can be a waste to buy any more than 6 months worth.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
We’re not suggesting it’s always a bad idea to purchase things on the internet. You can find lots of bargains. But some less scrupulous individuals will sell batteries online that are very close to the expiration date. Or even worse, it has already passed.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. When you purchase milk, you wouldn’t forget to check the expiration date. The same goes with batteries. Be certain that the date is well in the future to get the most usage out of the pack.
If the website doesn’t declare an expiration date, message the seller, or buy batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid center where you can see it on the packaging. Make sure you look for reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a reputable source.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries might drain quickly. But you can get more energy from each battery by taking little precautions. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re in the market for a new pair. You will get a full day of power after each night of recharging. Every few years, you will have to replace the rechargeable batteries.