Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries drain way too quickly? The reasons for this can be sometimes unexpected.How long should hearing aid batteries keep a charge? The standard hearing aid battery should last anywhere from 3 to 7 days. That range is fairly wide. So wide, actually, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a significant predicament. You might be on day 4 at the grocery store when unexpectedly, things go quiet and you can’t hear the cashier. Or perhaps on day 5, you’re having an enjoyable conversation with friends when you unexpectedly feel really alone because you can’t participate because you can’t hear. Sometimes the batteries don’t even make 3 days. Like when you’re watching TV on day 2 and suddenly you can’t hear the show your that’s on. It isn’t just inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much battery power you have left in your hearing aids. Here are the likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
A Battery Can be Drained by Moisture
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling method. We do it to get rid of excess sodium or toxins in the blood. On top of this, you might live in a humid or rainy climate where things are even wetter. This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making it less reliable. Moisture can also interact with the chemicals of the battery causing it to deplete faster. Here are a few steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other moist conditions
- Get a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
- When you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- if your storing them for several days or more, remove the batteries
Batteries Can be Depleted by Advanced Hearing Aid Functions
You get a much better hearing aid now than you did even 10 years ago. But if you’re not paying attention, these advanced functions can cause faster battery drain. Don’t avoid 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. Your battery can be depleted by any of the advanced functions, like Bluetooth, multichannel, noise cancellation, and tinnitus relief.
Altitude Changes Can Affect Batteries Too
Your batteries can be sapped out if you go from low to high altitudes particularly if they are already low on juice. Bring some spare batteries if you are going on a plane or high up into the mountains.
Are The Batteries Really Low?
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is running low. These alerts are, ordinarily, a “heads up”. It doesn’t mean you have a dead battery. In addition, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity briefly causes the charge to drop and the low battery alarm gets triggered. Remove the hearing aids and reset them to end the alarm. The battery may last a few more hours or even days.
Improper Handling of Batteries
Wait until you’re ready to use your hearing aid to pull the tab from the battery. Make sure you wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to protect against getting dirt or hand oil on them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other kinds of batteries. Hearing aid batteries might lose battery power faster if you make these basic handling mistakes.
It’s Not a Good Idea to Purchase a Year’s Supply of Batteries
If you can afford to do it, purchasing in bulk can be a smart plan. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last few batteries probably won’t last as long. Unless you’re fine with wasting a few, try to stay with a six month supply.
Purchasing Hearing Aid Batteries on The Web
Shopping online can be a good thing. There are some really good deals out in cyberspace. But some batteries that are available online are being sold by less honest people and are near their expiration date. Or worse, it has already passed. So buyer beware.
There’s an expiration date on both zinc and alkaline batteries. If you were going to buy milk, you would check the expiration date. You should do that with batteries too. Be sure that the date is not close to the expiration to get the most use out of the pack. If the website doesn’t specify an expiration date, message the vendor, or purchase batteries from us. Be sure you know and trust the seller.
Modern Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
There are a number of reasons that hearing batteries may drain rapidly. But by taking some precautions you can get more energy from each battery. You may also think about rechargeable hearing aids if you’re going to buy a new set. If you charge them while you sleep, you get a full day of hearing the next day. And you only have to replace them every few years.