Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries die way too quickly? Here are some unexpected reasons that may occur.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? From 3 to 7 days is the typical amount of time for charge to last.
That range is pretty wide. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and could leave you in a bind.
You may be at market on day 4. Suddenly, things get quiet. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. All of a sudden, you can’t follow the conversation and it’s leaving you feeling rather alone.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. You can no longer hear the children singing. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, they even sometimes drain after a couple of days.
It’s more than inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much power is left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 possible causes if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Moisture can drain a battery
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. Your battery may be exposed to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy place.
The air vent in your device can get plugged by this extra moisture which can cause less efficient functionality. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that generate electricity.
Prevent battery drain related to moisture using these steps:
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
- Use a dehumidifier
- Open up the battery door before storing the hearing aids
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for a prolonged period of time, remove the batteries
State-of-the-art hearing aid functions can drain batteries
Even a decade ago, hearing aids were much less helpful for individuals with hearing loss than modern devices. 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 just know that if you stream music for hours from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to replace the battery sooner.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra functions can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can impact batteries too
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a rapid climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. Make sure you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on a plane.
Is the battery actually drained?
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is low. Generally, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude briefly causes the charge to drop and the low battery alarm gets triggered.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There could be hours or even days of juice left.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
You should never remove the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Make sure you wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries so you don’t get hand oil or dirt on them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. This may extend 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.
Buying a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a great idea
It’s often 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. It can be a waste to purchase any more than a 6 month supply.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
We’re not suggesting it’s automatically a bad idea to purchase things online. You can get some great deals. But you will also come across some less honest vendors who will sell batteries that are close to or even past their expiration date.
Most kinds of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. When you buy milk, you wouldn’t forget to look at the expiration date. The same goes with batteries. If you want to get the most out of your battery, be certain the date is well into the future.
If you purchase your batteries at a hearing aid store or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the labeling, but if you’re going to shop on the internet be sure the vendor states when the batteries will expire. Make sure you check reviews to be certain you’re buying from a reliable source.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no longer
Hearing aid batteries may drain faster for several reasons. But by taking little precautions you can get more power from each battery. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re in the market for a new pair. You will get an entire day of power after each night of recharging. Every few years, you will need to change the rechargeable batteries.