Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries die way too fast? There are numerous reasons why this may be occurring that might be unexpected.
So how long should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? From 3 to 7 days is the standard time-frame for charge to last.
That’s a very wide range. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and could leave you in trouble.
You could be at market on day 4. Unexpectedly, things get quiet. The cashier is speaking to you but you don’t hear what they are saying.
Or it’s day 5. You’re appreciating a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear what your friends are saying.
Maybe you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. You can no longer hear the children singing. But it’s only day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before that 3-day mark.
It isn’t only inconvenient. You have no idea how much power is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
If your hearing aid batteries drain too quickly, look to these seven possible causes.
Moisture can drain a battery
Releasing moisture through our skin is one thing that humans do that the majority of other species don’t. It’s a cooling system. You do it to get rid of excess sodium or toxins in the blood. In addition, you may live in a rainy humid climate where things get even wetter.
This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making hearing aids less efficient. 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 you go to bed, open the battery door
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended time period, take out the batteries
Advanced hearing aid functions can run down batteries
Current digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But these extra 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 be aware that the battery will die faster if you spend hours streaming music from your cellphone to your hearing aids.
All these added features, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery faster.
Altitude changes can impact batteries too
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, especially if they’re low already. Make sure you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on an aircraft.
Is the battery actually drained?
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is low. These warnings, generally speaking, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re simply a heads up. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity 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. There may be hours or even days of power left.
Improper handling of batteries
You should never remove the little tab from the battery if you’re not ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be a problem for batteries so wash up before handling them. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. This may extend the life of other batteries but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries.
Basic 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 often a smart money choice when you can afford it. But you can anticipate that the last few batteries in the pack won’t last as long. Try to limit yourself to 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 stuff online. You can find lots of bargains. But you will also find some less honest sellers who will sell batteries that are near to or even past their expiration date.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have expiration dates. You wouldn’t buy milk without checking when it expires. The same goes with batteries. Make sure that the date is far enough in the future to get the most usage out of the pack.
If the website doesn’t declare an expiration date, send the online vendor a message, or purchase batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid center where you can see it on the box. Only purchase batteries from reputable sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries might drain quickly. But you can get more energy from each battery by taking small precautions. You might also think about rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new set. You will get an entire day of power after every night of recharging. Every few years, you will need to replace the rechargeable batteries.