Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain quicker than they should? Here are some unexpected reasons that may occur.
So how long should the charge on my hearing aid battery last? The ordinary hearing aid battery lasts anywhere between 3 and 7 days.
That range is rather wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You may be at the store on day 4. Out of the blue, 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.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. And the kid’s singing disappears. But it’s only day 2. Yes, they even sometimes drain after a couple of days.
It’s more than annoying. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much power you have left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 possible culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Your Battery can be drained by moisture
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that human beings do that most other species don’t. It’s a cooling system. It also cleans the blood of excess toxins and sodium. Your battery could be subjected to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy setting.
This extra moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making hearing aids less efficient. It can even interact with the chemicals that produce electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Avoid battery drain related to moisture using these steps:
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for several days
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- Before you go to bed, open up the battery door
Advanced hearing aid features can run down batteries
Even 10 years ago, hearing aids were much less helpful for individuals with hearing loss than current devices. But these added features can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not watching.
Don’t quit using your favorite 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 affected by altitude changes
Going from a low to high altitude can deplete your batteries, especially if they’re low already. When flying, climbing, or skiing remember to bring some spares.
Is the battery really drained?
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be replaced. Generally, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They aren’t telling you the battery is dead. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity temporarily causes the charge to drop and the low battery alarm will sound.
Take the hearing aids out and reset them to quiet the alarm. There could be hours or even days of power left.
Incorrect handling of batteries
You shouldn’t remove the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be an issue for batteries so wash up before handling them. Keep your batteries out of the freezer. This may increase the life of other batteries but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries.
Hearing aids will drain more quickly if you mishandle them in these ways.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
Buying in bulk is usually a smart money decision when you can afford it. But you can anticipate that the last few batteries in the pack won’t last as long. It can be a waste to purchase any more than 6 months worth.
Buying hearing aid batteries from the internet
We’re not claiming it’s automatically a bad idea to buy things online. You can find a lot of bargains. But you will also find some less honest sellers who will sell batteries that are near to or even past their expiration date.
Most types of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. When you buy milk, you wouldn’t forget to look at the date it expires. The same goes with batteries. Be certain that the date is well in the future to get the most usage out of the pack.
If you purchase your batteries at a hearing aid store or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the packaging, but if you are going to shop on the internet be sure the vendor states when the batteries will expire. Only buy batteries from reliable sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries could drain quickly. But by taking little precautions you can get more power from each battery. You might also think about rechargeable hearing aids if you’re in the market for a new set. You will get a full day of power after every night of recharging. The rechargeable batteries only have to be swapped out every few years.