Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries lose their charge too quickly? Here are some surprising reasons that could happen. What is the average amount of time that your hearing aid batteries should keep a charge? Anywhere from 3 to 7 days is typical. That range is pretty wide. As a matter of fact, it’s so wide that it probably can’t help you predict what should be happening with your hearing aid. Things could suddenly go quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the grocery store after 4 days of battery power. Or maybe on day 5, you’re having an enjoyable conversation with friends when you suddenly feel really 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, occasionally they even drain before that 3-day mark. It’s not just annoying. You’re missing out on life because you don’t know how much juice is left in your hearing aids. Here are the likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries die too soon.
A Battery Can be Drained by Moisture
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? We do it to cool off. We do it to get rid of excess toxins or sodium in the blood. You might also live in a climate that’s humid and moist. The air vent in your hearing aid can get clogged by this additional moisture and it will be less efficient. Moisture can also interact with the chemicals of the battery causing it to drain faster. Here are a few steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- When you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- Get a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other moist conditions
- if your storing them for several days or more, remove the batteries
Batteries Can be Drained by Advanced Hearing Aid Features
You get a much better hearing aid today than you did even a decade ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to run down faster if you’re not keeping an eye on them. Don’t stop using your favorite features. But be aware that if you stream music all day from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to change the battery sooner. Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added functions can deplete your battery.
Batteries Can be Impacted by Altitude Changes
Going from a low to high altitude can deplete your batteries, specifically if they’re on their older. When skiing, flying or climbing always brings some extra batteries.
Maybe The Batteries Aren’t Really Low
Some models will give you an alert when the battery starts to get too low. As a general rule, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not actually saying the battery is dead. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude temporarily causes the charge to dip and the low battery alert gets triggered. In order to end the alarm, remove the batteries, and then put them back in. You may be able to get a few more hours or possibly even days out of that battery.
Handling Batteries Improperly
Wait until you’re about to use your hearing aid to pull the tab from the battery. Steer clear of getting dirt and skin oil on your hearing aid by cleaning your hands before touching them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t lengthen their life as it could with other kinds of batteries. Basic handling mistakes like these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
Getting a Year’s Supply of Batteries Isn’t a Very Good Plan
When you can afford to do it, buying in bulk can be a smart plan. But the last few batteries in the pack most likely won’t have full power. Unless you don’t mind wasting a few, try to stay with a six month supply.
Buying Hearing Aid Batteries on The Web
It’s not an over-all critique of buying stuff on the web. There are some really good deals out in cyberspace. But some less honest people will sell batteries online that are very near to the expiration date. They may even be beyond their expiration date. So buyer beware.
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 care with batteries. If you want to get the most out of your pack, be sure the date is well in the future. If the website doesn’t state an expiration date, send the online vendor a message, or buy batteries from us. Only buy batteries from reliable sources.
Now You Can Get Rechargeable Hearing Aids
There are several reasons that hearing batteries might drain rapidly. But you can get more life out of your batteries by taking some precautions. You might also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re in the market for a new set. You dock them on a charger every night for a full day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only need to be replaced every few years.