Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries lose their charge too fast? Here are some surprising reasons that might occur. What is the average period of time that your hearing aid batteries should stay charged? Anywhere from 3 to 7 days is typical. That range is fairly wide. As a matter of fact, it’s so wide that it probably can’t help you predict what should be going on with your hearing aid. You may be on day 4 at the grocery store when suddenly, things get quiet and you’re unable to hear the cashier. Or maybe on day 5, you’re enjoying a conversation with friends when you unexpectedly feel really alone because you can’t participate because you can’t hear. Occasionally the batteries don’t even make that 3 day mark. Like when you’re watching TV on day 2 and suddenly you can’t hear the show your that’s on. It isn’t just inconvenient. You just can’t tell how much battery power your hearing aids have left and it’s causing you to miss out on life. If your hearing aid batteries are dying too rapidly, there are a few likely causes.
A Battery Can be Drained by Moisture
There aren’t many species that release moisture through their skin but humans do. We do it to cool down. We do it to clear out excess toxins or sodium in the blood. You might also live in a climate that is moist and humid. This extra moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making it less efficient. Moisture can also interact with the chemicals of the battery causing it to drain faster. You can prevent moisture-related battery drainage with these measures:
- Open the battery door when you store the hearing aids
- A dehumidifier for your hearing aid is helpful
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other damp environments
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a number of days
Batteries Can be Drained by Advanced Hearing Aid Features
Modern digital hearing aids help people hear a lot better than ones that you could get just a decade ago. But if you’re not keeping your eye on them, these advanced features can cause faster battery drain. Don’t avoid using your favorite features. But keep in mind, you will need to change the battery sooner if you are streaming music from your phone for hours. Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra features can drain your battery.
Batteries Can be Affected by Altitude Changes
Moving from a low to high altitude can deplete your batteries, particularly if they’re on their older. When flying, skiing or climbing always brings some extra batteries.
Maybe The Batteries Aren’t Really Low
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is low. These alerts are, under normal circumstances, a “heads up”. It doesn’t mean you have a dead battery. Moreover, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude briefly causes the charge to dip and the low battery alert gets triggered. In order to stop the alarm, remove the batteries, and then put them back in. The battery may last a few more hours or even days.
Improper Handling of Batteries
Wait until you’re ready to use your hearing aid to pull the tab from the battery. Make sure you wash your hands before touching your hearing aids or batteries to protect against getting hand oil or dirt on them. Hearing aid batteries should not be frozen. This trick might extend the life of some kinds of battery but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries. Simple handling mistakes such as these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
Getting a Year’s Supply of Batteries Isn’t a Good Idea
Buying in bulk is usually a smart money move when you can afford to do it. But as you come to the end of the pack, the last few batteries most likely won’t be at 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
Buying online can be a good thing. There are some pretty good deals out in cyberspace. But some less scrupulous people will sell batteries online that are very near to the expiration date. Or worse, they are already passed. So you need to be careful.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have a date they will expire. You wouldn’t buy milk without checking the expiration date. You have to use the same amount of care with batteries. Make sure that the date is well in the future to get the most use out of the pack. It’s probably a good idea to message the vendor if you don’t see an expiration date or even better, come see us for your battery needs. Make sure you know and trust the seller.
Now You Can Get Rechargeable Hearing Aids
There are several reasons that hearing batteries could drain quickly. But you can get more power out of your batteries by taking some precautions. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re in the market for a new set. You dock them on a charger each night for a full day of hearing the next day. And you only need to change them every few years.