Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries die way too quickly? There are numerous reasons why this may be taking place that might be surprising.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The typical hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days.
That range is fairly wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You might be on day 4 at the supermarket store. Unexpectedly, things get quiet. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or, you’re out for dinner with friends on day 5. All of a sudden, you can’t hear the discussion and it’s leaving you feeling rather alone.
Now, you’re at your grandson’s school play. You can no longer hear the children singing. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, they even occasionally die after a couple of days.
It’s not simply inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much juice is left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 likely causes if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Your Battery can be drained by moisture
Did you realize that human beings are one of the few species that release moisture through their skin? You do it to cool down. It also helps clear the blood of excess toxins and sodium. On top of this, you might live in a rainy humid environment where things get even wetter.
This extra moisture can clog up the air vent in your device, affecting the hearing aid’s efficiency. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that make electricity.
Here are several steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
- Open the battery door before you store your hearing aids
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended time period, remove the batteries
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
Advanced modern features are power intensive
Current digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out only 10 years ago. But when these advanced features are being used, they can be a drain on battery power.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use these amazing 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 added functions can drain your battery.
Batteries can be impacted by altitude changes
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, especially if they’re on their last leg. When flying, skiing, or climbing always takes some spares.
Is the battery really drained?
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be replaced. Generally, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They aren’t telling you the battery is dead. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude temporarily causes the charge to drop and the low battery alarm will sound.
Take the hearing aids out and reset them to stop the alarm. There may be hours or even days of power left.
Handling the batteries improperly
You shouldn’t 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. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. This might extend the life of other batteries but that’s not the case 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
Buying in bulk is often a smart money choice when you can afford to do it. But you can expect that the last few batteries in the pack will drain faster. It can be a waste to buy any more than 6 months worth.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
We’re not claiming it’s automatically a bad idea to purchase things online. You can find lots of bargains. But you will also come across some less honest vendors who will sell batteries that are near to or even past their expiration date.
Most kinds of batteries, including 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 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 labeling, but if you’re going to shop online be sure the vendor states when the batteries will expire. Only purchase batteries from reputable sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
Hearing aid batteries may drain faster for numerous 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 put these hearing aids on a charger every night for a full day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only have to be replaced every few years.