Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain faster than they ought to? There are numerous reasons why this might be taking place that may be unexpected.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? From 3 to 7 days is the standard period of time for charge to last.
That’s a really wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament.
You could be at market on day 4. All of a sudden, you can’t hear anything. The cashier is speaking to you but you don’t hear what they are saying.
Or, you’re out for dinner with friends on day 5. All of a sudden, you can’t hear the conversation and it’s leaving you feeling rather alone.
Now, you’re at your grandchild’s school play. And the children’s singing disappears. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before the 3rd day.
It’s not only inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much power you have left in your hearing aids.
If your hearing aid batteries die too quickly, check out these seven possible causes.
Your Battery can be killed by moisture
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. You do it to remove extra sodium or toxins in the blood. On top of this, you may live in a rainy humid climate where things get even wetter.
The air vent in your device can get clogged by this excess moisture which can cause less efficient performance. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity.
Here are several steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- Before going to bed, open up the battery door
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended time period, remove the batteries
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
- Store your hearing aids in a place where moisture is at a minimum
Advanced modern features are power intensive
Modern digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out only 10 years ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not paying attention.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use 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 extra features, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery more quickly.
Batteries can be affected 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 always takes some spares.
Maybe the batteries aren’t actually drained
Some hearing aids tell you 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. In addition, you may get a warning when the charge drops because of an altitude or humidity change.
Take the hearing aids out and reset them to stop the alarm. There may be hours or even days of juice left.
Handling the batteries improperly
You should never pull off the little tab from the battery if you’re not ready to use it. Make sure you wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries so you don’t get hand oil or dirt on them. Keep your batteries out of the freezer. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other types of batteries.
Simple handling mistakes like these can make hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Purchasing a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a good idea
Buying in bulk is usually a smart money decision when you can afford it. But you can anticipate that the last few batteries in the pack will drain faster. Try to limit yourself to a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
Online battery vendors
We’re not saying it’s always a bad idea to purchase things online. You can get some great deals. But you will also find some less honest vendors 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 buy milk without looking at the expiration. The same goes with batteries. Be certain that the date is far enough in the future to get the most use out of the pack.
If you purchase your batteries at a hearing aid center or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the labeling, but if you are going to shop on the internet make sure the vendor states when the batteries will expire. Only purchase batteries from trustworthy sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no longer
Hearing aid batteries might drain faster for several reasons. But you can get more energy from each battery by taking little precautions. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new pair. You will get a full day of power after each night of recharging. Every few years, you will need to change the rechargeable batteries.
