Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain quicker than they should? There are numerous reasons why this might be taking place that might be unexpected.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? The typical 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 could leave you in a bind.
You might be on day 4 at the supermarket store. Suddenly, things get quiet. The cashier is speaking to you but you don’t hear what they are saying.
Or it’s day 5. You’re appreciating a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer follow what your friends are saying.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to watch a play. And the children’s singing disappears. But it’s only day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before the 3rd day.
It’s not only inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you don’t know how much juice is left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 possible culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Moisture can drain a battery
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that humans do that the majority of other species don’t. You do it to cool down. You do it to eliminate extra sodium or toxins in the blood. On top of this, you might live in a rainy humid environment where things get even wetter.
This extra moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making hearing aids less efficient. It can even kill the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that make electricity.
Prevent battery drain related to moisture using these steps:
- Open up the battery door before storing the hearing aids
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for a prolonged period of time, take out the batteries
- Use a dehumidifier
- Store your hearing aids in a spot where moisture is at a minimum
Advanced modern features are power intensive
Even a decade ago, hearing aids were a lot less helpful for people with hearing loss than modern devices. But when these sophisticated functions are in use, they can be a draw on battery power.
That doesn’t mean you should stop using these amazing features. But be aware that the battery will drain faster if you spend hours streaming music from your cellphone to your hearing aids.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added functions can drain your battery.
Batteries can be impacted by altitude changes
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a quick climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is especially true. Make sure you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on a plane.
Perhaps the batteries aren’t actually drained
Many hearing aids will alert you when the batteries need to be replaced. These warnings, generally speaking, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re simply a heads up. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity briefly causes the charge to drop and the low battery alarm gets triggered.
You can stop the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. You might be able to get several more hours or even days out of that battery.
Incorrect handling of batteries
You shouldn’t pull off the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be an issue for batteries so wash up before you handle them. Keep your batteries out of the freezer. This might increase the life of other batteries but that’s not the case 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
Purchasing in bulk is often a smart money choice when you can afford to do it. But you can expect that the last few batteries in the pack will drain faster. Try to limit yourself to a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
Buying hearing aid batteries from the internet
We’re not suggesting it’s always a bad idea to buy things online. You can find lots of bargains. But some less scrupulous people will sell batteries on the internet that are very close to the expiration date. Or even worse, it has already gone by.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. You wouldn’t buy milk without looking at when it expires. You shouldn’t forget to check the date on batteries either. Be certain that the date is far enough in the future to get the most use out of the pack.
If the website doesn’t state an expiration date, message the seller, or buy batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid store where you can see it on the packaging. Only purchase batteries from reliable sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries could drain quickly. But by taking little precautions you can get more energy from each battery. And if you’re thinking of an upgrade, consider rechargeable hearing aids. You will get an entire day of power after every night of recharging. The rechargeable batteries only need to be swapped out every few years.