Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die faster than they should? There are numerous reasons why this might be happening that might be unexpected.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The ordinary 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 may leave you in a bind.
You could be at market on day 4. Suddenly, things get quiet. The cashier is talking to you but you don’t hear what they are saying.
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 hear what your friends are saying.
Now, you’re attending your grandson’s school play. You can no longer hear the children singing. But it’s only day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before that 3-day mark.
It isn’t just inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you don’t know how much juice is left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 likely causes if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Moisture can kill a battery
Did you know that human beings are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? You do it to cool down. It also helps clear the blood of excess toxins and sodium. In addition, you may live in a humid or rainy environment where things get even wetter.
The air vent in your device can become plugged by this excess moisture which can cause less efficient performance. It can even interact with the chemicals that produce electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Here are a few steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended period of time, remove the batteries
- Open the battery door before storing the hearing aids
- Keep your hearing aids in a spot where moisture is at a minimum
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
State-of-the-art hearing aid features can run down batteries
Modern digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But these added functions can cause batteries to drain more quickly if you’re not watching.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use these amazing features. But be aware that the battery will die faster if you spend all day streaming music from your phone to your hearing aids.
All these added functions, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery more quickly.
Batteries can be affected by altitude changes
Going from a low to high altitude can deplete your batteries, especially if they’re on their last leg. Be certain that you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on a plane.
Is the battery really drained?
Many hearing aids will warn you when the batteries need to be changed. These warnings, generally speaking, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re just a heads up. In addition, you may get a warning when the charge drops because of an altitude or humidity change.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. You may be able to get several more hours or even days out of that battery.
Improper handling of batteries
You should never pull off the little tab from the battery if you’re not ready to use it. Always wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to avoid getting hand oil or dirt on them. Keep your batteries out of the freezer. This might 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
It’s usually a wise financial choice to purchase in bulk. But you can expect that the last several batteries in the pack will drain faster. It can be a waste to buy any more than a 6 month supply.
internet battery vendors
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 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 date it expires. 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 the website doesn’t state an expiration date, message the seller, or buy batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid center where you can see it on the packaging. Make sure you look for reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a reliable source.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries may drain quickly. But you can get more energy from each battery by taking little precautions. You might also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new pair. You will get an entire day of power after each night of recharging. Every few years, you will have to replace the rechargeable batteries.
