Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries die way too fast? There are numerous reasons why this might be happening that may be surprising.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery last? The typical hearing aid battery lasts anywhere between 3 and 7 days.
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. Unexpectedly, your sound cuts out. The cashier is speaking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or, you’re out for lunch with friends on day 5. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer follow the conversation.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to watch a play. And the children’s singing disappears. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, they even sometimes die after a couple of days.
It isn’t simply inconvenient. You have no idea how much juice is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Your Battery can be killed by moisture
Releasing 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. Your battery could be subjected to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy setting.
The air vent in your device can get plugged by this extra moisture which can result in less efficient performance. It can even interact with the chemicals that make electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Avoid battery drain caused by moisture using these steps:
- Get a dehumidifier
- Store your hearing aids in a spot where moisture is minimum
- Open up the battery door before storing the hearing aids
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for several days
Sophisticated modern features are power intensive
Modern digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out only 10 years ago. But when these sophisticated functions are in use, they can be a draw on battery power.
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 cellphone to your hearing aids.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra features can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can impact batteries too
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, especially if they’re low already. Be certain that you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on an aircraft.
Perhaps the batteries aren’t actually drained
Many hearing aids will warn you when the batteries need to be replaced. As a general rule, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They aren’t telling you the battery is dead. Moreover, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude temporarily causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm gets triggered.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There may be hours or even days of juice left.
Improper handling of batteries
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. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. This may increase the life of other batteries but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries.
Hearing aids will drain more quickly if you mishandle them in these ways.
Purchasing a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a great idea
It’s often a wise financial decision to purchase in bulk. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries most likely won’t last as long. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with the waste.
internet battery vendors
This isn’t a general critique of buying stuff 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 close 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 the expiration. The same goes with batteries. Make sure 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 packaging, but if you’re going to shop on the internet be sure the seller specifies when the batteries will expire. Make sure you look for reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a reliable source.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
Hearing aid batteries may drain faster for numerous reasons. But you can get more energy from each battery by taking little precautions. And if you’re considering an upgrade, consider rechargeable hearing aids. You will get an entire day of power after every night of recharging. Every few years, you will have to change the rechargeable batteries.