Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries drain way too fast? Here are a few surprising reasons that might occur.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The standard hearing aid battery lasts anywhere between 3 and 7 days.
That’s a really wide range. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and could leave you in a bind.
You could be on day 4 at the grocery store. Suddenly, your sound cuts out. The cashier is speaking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or, you’re out for dinner with friends on day 5. All of a sudden, you can’t hear the conversation and it’s leaving you feeling rather alone.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to watch a play. You can no longer hear the children singing. But it’s only day 2. Yes, they even occasionally die after a couple of days.
It isn’t simply inconvenient. You have no idea how much power is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 possible causes if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Your Battery can be drained by moisture
Did you realize that humans are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling system. You do it to remove extra sodium or toxins in the blood. Your battery may be exposed to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy setting.
The air vent in your device can get clogged by this excess moisture which can cause less efficient functionality. It can even interact with the chemicals that make electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Avoid battery drain related to moisture using these steps:
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for several days
- Before you go to bed, open the battery door
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
Sophisticated modern features are power intensive
Even a decade ago, hearing aids were much less helpful for people with hearing loss than current devices. But these extra functions can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not paying attention.
That doesn’t mean you should stop using these amazing features. But just know that if you stream music all day from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to replace the battery sooner.
All these added features, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery faster.
Altitude changes can affect batteries too
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a rapid climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is especially true. Be certain that you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on a plane.
Perhaps the batteries aren’t actually drained
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be replaced. As a general rule, 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 briefly causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm gets triggered.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. You might be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
Wait until it’s time to use the battery before you remove the protective tab. Always wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries so you don’t get hand oil or dirt on them. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other types of batteries.
Simple handling errors like these can make hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
It’s usually a practical financial decision to purchase in bulk. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries most likely won’t last as long. Try to limit yourself to a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
This isn’t a broad critique of buying stuff on the internet. You can find lots of bargains. But you will also find some less honest vendors who will sell batteries that are close to or even past their expiration date.
Most types of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. You wouldn’t buy milk without checking the expiration. The same goes with batteries. Be certain that the date is far enough in the future to get the most use out of the pack.
If the website doesn’t state an expiration date, message the seller, or buy batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid store where you can see it on the box. Make sure you check reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a reputable source.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries may drain quickly. But by taking little precautions you can get more power out of each battery. And if you’re considering an upgrade, consider rechargeable hearing aids. You dock these hearing aids on a charger each night for a full day of hearing tomorrow. The rechargeable batteries only have to be replaced every few years.
