Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries die way too fast? Here are a few surprising reasons that might 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. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and may leave you in a bind.
You may be at the store on day 4. Suddenly, things get quiet. You can’t hear the cashier.
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 grandson’s school play. And the children’s singing disappears. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, they even sometimes die after a couple of days.
It isn’t only inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much juice is left in your hearing aids.
If your hearing aid batteries die too quickly, look to these seven possible culprits.
Your Battery can be drained by moisture
Did you realize that humans are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? You do it to cool down. You do it to eliminate excess sodium or toxins in the blood. Your battery could be subjected to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy setting.
This extra 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.
Here are several steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Before going to bed, open up the battery door
- Get a dehumidifier
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a few days
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
Advanced modern features are power intensive
Modern digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out just a decade ago. But these added features can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not watching.
Don’t quit using your favorite features. But be aware that the battery will drain faster if you spend all day streaming music from your phone to your hearing aids.
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 quick climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. When flying, climbing, or skiing remember to bring some spares.
Perhaps the batteries aren’t actually drained
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is getting low. These warnings, generally speaking, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re just a heads up. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude temporarily causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm gets triggered.
You can stop the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. 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 handling them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other types of batteries.
Simple handling errors like these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
It’s usually a practical 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. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with the waste.
Buying hearing aid batteries from the internet
This isn’t a broad critique of buying things on the internet. You can find a lot of bargains. But you will also come across some less honest sellers who will sell batteries that are near to or even past their expiration date.
Most types of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. You wouldn’t purchase milk without checking when it expires. You shouldn’t forget to check the date on batteries either. In order to get the most from your battery, make sure the date is well into the future.
If you buy your batteries at a hearing aid store or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the labeling, but if you’re going to shop online make sure the vendor specifies when the batteries will expire. Only buy batteries from reliable sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
Hearing aid batteries may 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 every night for a full day of hearing the next day. Every few years, you will have to replace the rechargeable batteries.
