Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain quicker than they ought to? Here are a few surprising reasons that may occur.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? From 3 to 7 days is the typical period of time for charge to last.
That’s a really wide range. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and may leave you in a bind.
You could be at market on day 4. Unexpectedly, things get quiet. The cashier is talking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or it’s day 5. You’re appreciating a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer hear the conversation.
Now, you’re at your grandchild’s school play. You can no longer hear the kids singing. But it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even drain before that 3-day mark.
It’s more than inconvenient. You have no clue how much power is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
If your hearing aid batteries drain too quickly, check out these seven possible culprits.
Your Battery can be drained 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 system. You do it to remove extra sodium or toxins in the blood. In addition, you may live in a rainy humid climate where things get even wetter.
The air vent in your device can get clogged by this extra moisture which can result in less efficient functionality. 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:
- Open up the battery door before you store your hearing aids
- Use a dehumidifier
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for several days
Advanced modern features are power intensive
Even a decade ago, hearing aids were a lot less helpful for people with hearing loss than current devices. But when these sophisticated features are in use, they can be a drain on battery power.
Don’t stop using your favorite features. But just know that if you stream music for hours from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to replace the battery sooner.
All these added functions, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery faster.
Batteries can be affected by altitude changes
Going from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, particularly if they’re low already. Be certain that you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on a plane.
Is the battery really drained?
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be changed. Generally, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They aren’t telling you the battery is dead. In addition, you might get a warning when the charge takes a dip due to an altitude or humidity change.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There may be hours or even days of juice left.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
You should never pull off the little tab from the battery before you’re 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. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other kinds of batteries.
Basic handling errors like these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
Buying a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a great idea
Purchasing in bulk is usually a smart money choice when you can afford it. 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 a 6 month supply.
internet battery vendors
This isn’t a general critique of buying things on the internet. You can get some great deals. But some less scrupulous individuals will sell batteries on the internet that are very near to the expiration date. Or even worse, it has already gone by.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. When you purchase milk, you wouldn’t forget to look at the expiration date. You shouldn’t forget to check the date on batteries either. Be certain that the date is well in the future to get the most usage out of the pack.
If you buy your batteries at a hearing aid center or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the packaging, but if you are going to shop on the internet be sure the vendor states when the batteries will expire. Only purchase batteries from trustworthy sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries may drain quickly. But you can get more power from each battery by taking little precautions. And if you’re considering an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You will get an entire day of power after each night of recharging. Every few years, you will need to change the rechargeable batteries.
