Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries lose their charge too quickly? The reasons for this can be sometimes surprising.What is the average amount of time that your hearing aid batteries should keep a charge? The ordinary hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days. That range is fairly wide. So wide, actually, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament. Things could suddenly go quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the supermarket after 4 days of battery power. Or perhaps on day 5, you’re having an enjoyable conversation with friends when you unexpectedly feel very alone because you can’t hear what anyone is saying. Now, you’re watching TV. You can no longer hear the news. Hold on, it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before that 3-day mark. It isn’t just inconvenient. You simply can’t tell how much battery power you have left in your hearing aids and it’s making you miss out on life. Here are the most likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Moisture Can Drain a Battery
There aren’t many species that produce moisture through their skin but humans do. It’s a cooling method. We do it to clear out excess sodium or toxins in the blood. Moreover, you may live in a rainy or humid climate where things are even wetter. This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making it less effective. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals which create electricity. Here are a few steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- Obtain a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
- Open the battery door when you store the hearing aids
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other moist conditions
- if your storing them for a number of days or more, remove the batteries
Batteries Can be Drained by Advanced Hearing Aid Features
Advanced digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But if you’re not paying attention, these advanced functions can cause faster battery drain. You can still use your favorite features. But just know that if you stream music for hours from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll have to replace the battery sooner. Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief, noise canceling — all of these additional functions can deplete your battery.
Batteries Can be Affected by Altitude Changes
Your batteries can be drained if you go from low to high altitudes especially if they are already low on juice. When flying, skiing or climbing always takes some spare batteries.
Maybe The Batteries Aren’t Really Low
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is running low. These warnings are, under normal circumstances, a “heads up”. They’re not actually saying the battery is dead. In addition, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity temporarily causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm gets activated. Take the hearing aids out and reset them to end the alarm. The battery may last several more hours or even days.
Improper Handling of Batteries
Wait until you’re ready to use your hearing aid to remove the tab from the battery. Always wash your hands before touching your hearing aids or batteries to protect against getting dirt or hand oil on them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t lengthen their life as it could with other types of batteries. Basic handling errors such as these can make hearing aid batteries drain more quickly.
Buying a Year’s Supply of Batteries Isn’t a Very Good Idea
Buying in bulk is often a smart money decision if you can afford to do it. But the last few batteries in the pack most likely won’t have full power. Unless you’re fine with wasting a few, try to stay with a six month supply.
Shopping For Hearing Aid Batteries on The Web
This isn’t a broad criticism of purchasing things on the internet. There are some really great deals out in cyberspace. But some batteries that you can find on the internet are being sold by less honest individuals and are near their expiration date. They might even be beyond their expiration date. So you need to be careful.
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 need to use the same amount of caution with batteries. If you want to get the most from your pack, be certain the date is well in the future. If the website doesn’t specify an expiration date, message the vendor, or purchase batteries directly from us. Be sure you know and trust the seller.
Current Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
There are a number of reasons that hearing batteries may drain rapidly. But you can get more life from your batteries by taking some precautions. If you’re looking to buy a new pair of hearing aids, you might consider a rechargeable model. You dock them on a charger each night for a full charge the next day. The rechargeable batteries only need to be replaced every few years.