Do you feel like your hearing aid batteries are not keeping a charge as long as they should? Here are a few unexpected reasons that might occur.What is the average amount of time that your hearing aid batteries should keep a charge? The normal hearing aid battery should last between 3 and 7 days. That range is pretty wide. In fact, it’s so wide that it probably won’t help you predict what should be going on with your hearing aid. Things could suddenly go quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the supermarket after 4 days of battery power. Or maybe on day 5, you’re having an enjoyable conversation with friends when you unexpectedly feel really alone because you can’t participate because you can’t hear. Now, you’re watching TV. You can no longer hear the news. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before that 3-day mark. It’s not just annoying. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much battery power you have left in your hearing aids. If your hearing aid batteries are draining too quickly, there are a few likely culprits.
Moisture Can Drain a Battery
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that release moisture through their skin? We do it to cool off. It’s the body’s way of purging the blood of sodium and toxins. You might also live in a climate that is moist and humid. The air vent in your hearing aid can become clogged by this added moisture and it will be less efficient. Moisture can also interact with the chemicals of the battery causing it to deplete faster. You can prevent moisture-related battery drainage with these measures:
- Moist environments, like the kitchen or bathroom are not a good place to keep your hearing aids
- if your storing them for a number of days or more, remove the batteries
- When you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- A dehumidifier for your hearing aid is helpful
Advanced Hearing Aid Functions Can Drain Batteries
You get a much better hearing aid nowadays than you did even ten years ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to run down faster if you’re not paying attention. You can still use your favorite features. But remember, you will have to replace the battery sooner if you are streaming music from your phone for hours. Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these additional functions can drain your battery.
Batteries Can be Affected by Altitude Changes
Your batteries can be drained if you go from low to high altitudes specifically if they are already low on juice. Bring some extra batteries if you are going on a plane or high up into the mountains.
Are The Batteries Really Low?
Some models will give you an alert when the battery begins to get too low. These warnings are, under normal circumstances, a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. Moreover, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude briefly causes the charge to drop and the low battery alert gets activated. In order to end the alarm, remove the batteries, and then put them back in. The battery might last a few more hours or even days.
Improper Handling of Batteries
You should not remove the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Refrain from getting skin oil and dirt on your hearing aid by washing your hands before handling them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t extend their life as it could with other kinds of batteries. Hearing aid batteries might lose battery power faster if you make these basic handling mistakes.
It isn’t a Good Idea to Purchase a Year’s Supply of Batteries
If you can afford to do it, buying in bulk can be a smart idea. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries most likely won’t be at full power. Unless you don’t mind wasting a few, try to stay with a six month supply.
Shopping For Hearing Aid Batteries on The Web
Shopping from the web can be a good thing. There are some pretty great deals out in cyberspace. But some less honest people sell batteries on the internet that are very near to the expiration date. They might even be past their expiration date. So you need to be cautious.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have a date they will expire. You shouldn’t buy milk without looking at the expiration. You should do that with batteries too. If you want to get the most out of your pack, make 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 directly from us. Only purchase batteries from reliable sources.
Now You Can Get Rechargeable Hearing Aids
There are several reasons that hearing batteries may drain quickly. But you can get more life from your batteries by taking some precautions. If you’re in the market for a new set of hearing aids, you might decide on a rechargeable model. If you charge them at night, you get a full day of power the next day. The rechargeable batteries only need to be changed every few years.