Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain quicker than they should? There are several reasons why this might be occurring that may be unexpected.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery last? The ordinary hearing aid battery lasts anywhere between 3 and 7 days.
That’s a very wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You may be at the store on day 4. Unexpectedly, your sound cuts out. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or, you’re out for lunch with friends on day 5. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear the conversation.
Now, you’re at your grandson’s school play. You can no longer hear the kids singing. But it’s only day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before the 3rd day.
It’s more than inconvenient. You’re losing out on life because you’re not sure how much power you have left in your hearing aids.
Here are 7 likely causes if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Your Battery can be drained by moisture
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that discharge moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling mechanism. You do it to remove extra sodium or toxins in the blood. Your battery could be exposed to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy setting.
The air vent in your device can become clogged by this excess moisture which can cause less efficient performance. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity.
Here are several steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
- A dehumidifier is helpful
- Open up the battery door before you store your hearing aids
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for a prolonged period of time, remove the batteries
State-of-the-art hearing aid functions can run down batteries
Current digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out only a decade ago. But when these advanced features 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 die faster if you spend all day streaming music from your phone 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
Going from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, especially if they’re on their last leg. When flying, skiing, or climbing remember to bring some spares.
Perhaps the batteries aren’t 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 simply a heads up. Moreover, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude temporarily causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm gets triggered.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. You might be able to get several more hours or even days from that battery.
Incorrect handling of batteries
Wait until you’re ready to use the battery before you pull off the protective tab. Hand oil or dirt can be a problem for batteries so wash up before handling them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other types of batteries.
Basic handling errors like these can make hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
It’s often a practical financial decision to buy in bulk. But you can expect that the last few batteries in the pack won’t last as long. It can be a waste to buy any more than 6 months worth.
internet battery vendors
This isn’t a general critique of buying stuff online. You can find lots of bargains. But you will also find 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. You wouldn’t purchase milk without checking when it expires. The same goes with batteries. In order 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, send the online vendor a message, or buy batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid center where you can see it on the packaging. Only purchase batteries from reputable sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries might drain quickly. But you can get more energy from each battery by taking little precautions. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re in the market for a new pair. You will get an entire day of power after each night of recharging. Every few years, you will need to replace the rechargeable batteries.