Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries drain way too fast? There are numerous reasons why this might be taking place that might be surprising.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery last? From 3 to 7 days is the typical period of time for charge to last.
That range is fairly wide. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and might leave you in a bind.
You may be at market on day 4. All of a sudden, you can’t hear anything. You can’t hear the cashier.
Or it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer follow what your friends are saying.
Now, you’re at your grandson’s school play. You can no longer hear the children singing. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even drain before that 3-day mark.
It isn’t just inconvenient. You have no idea how much juice is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 possible culprits if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Your Battery can be drained by moisture
Releasing moisture through our skin is one thing that humans do that most other species don’t. It’s a cooling system. It also helps clear the blood of excess toxins and sodium. On top of this, you may live in a rainy humid environment where things get even wetter.
The air vent in your device can become plugged by this extra moisture which can cause less efficient performance. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that generate electricity.
Here are several steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended period of time, take out the batteries
- Before going to bed, open the battery door
- A dehumidifier is helpful
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
Advanced hearing aid functions can run down batteries
Current digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out only a decade ago. But when these sophisticated features are in use, they can be a drain on battery power.
Don’t quit using your favorite features. But be aware that the battery will drain faster if you spend hours streaming music from your phone to your hearing aids.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added functions can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can impact batteries too
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, particularly if they’re on their last leg. Make sure you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on a plane.
Is the battery actually drained?
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is low. These warnings, as a general rule, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re just a heads up. In addition, you may get a warning when the charge takes a dip due to an altitude or humidity change.
You can stop the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. You may be able to get several more hours or even days out of that battery.
Handling the batteries improperly
You should never remove the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be a problem for batteries so wash up before you handle them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. This may increase 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 faster.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
Buying in bulk is often a smart money decision when you can afford to do it. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last few batteries most likely won’t last as long. It can be a waste to purchase any more than a 6 month supply.
Online battery vendors
We’re not suggesting it’s automatically a bad idea to buy 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 close to or even past their expiration date.
Most kinds of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. You wouldn’t purchase milk without checking when it expires. The same goes with batteries. If you want to get the most out of your battery, make sure the date is well into the future.
If you purchase your batteries at a hearing aid center or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the labeling, but if you’re going to shop on the internet be sure the seller states when the batteries will expire. Only buy batteries from reliable sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no longer
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries might drain quickly. But you can get more energy from each battery by taking little precautions. You may also think about rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new set. You dock these hearing aids on a charger every night for a full day of hearing tomorrow. Every few years, you will need to replace the rechargeable batteries.