Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries drain way too fast? There are numerous reasons why this may be occurring that might be surprising.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? The typical hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days.
That’s a really wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You might be on day 4 at the grocery store. Out of the blue, you can’t hear anything. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or, you’re out for dinner with friends on day 5. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer hear what your friends are saying.
Now, you’re attending your grandson’s school play. You can no longer hear the kids singing. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, they even sometimes drain after a couple of days.
It isn’t only inconvenient. You’re losing out on life because you’re not sure how much power you have left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Moisture can drain a battery
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling mechanism. It also helps clear the blood of unwanted toxins and sodium. Your battery may 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 excess moisture which can cause less efficient functionality. It can even interact with the chemicals that generate electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Avoid battery drain related to moisture using these steps:
- Before going to bed, open the battery door
- Store your hearing aids in a spot where moisture is minimum
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for several days
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
Sophisticated modern features are power intensive
Even a decade ago, hearing aids were a lot less helpful for people with hearing loss than current devices. But when these sophisticated functions 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 hours 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 affected by altitude changes
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, particularly if they’re low already. When flying, skiing, or climbing remember to bring some spares.
Maybe the batteries aren’t actually drained
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is low. 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 will sound.
You can stop the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. You might be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Improper handling of batteries
You shouldn’t pull off 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. Keep your batteries out of the freezer. This might increase the life of other batteries but that’s not the case with hearing aid batteries.
Simple handling mistakes like these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
Purchasing a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a great idea
It’s usually a wise financial decision to buy in bulk. But you can anticipate that the last several batteries in the pack won’t last as long. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with the waste.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
This isn’t a broad criticism of buying things online. You can find a lot of bargains. But you will also find some less honest vendors 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 an expiration date. You wouldn’t buy milk without checking when it expires. The same goes with batteries. In order 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 make sure the seller specifies when the batteries will expire. 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. And if you’re considering an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You will get a full day of power after every night of recharging. Every few years, you will have to replace the rechargeable batteries.
