Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die faster than they ought to? Here are a few surprising reasons that may happen.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? From 3 to 7 days is the typical period of time for charge to last.
That range is rather wide. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and might leave you in a bind.
You may be at market on day 4. Suddenly, things get quiet. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or, you’re out for lunch with friends on day 5. All of a sudden, you can’t hear the discussion and it’s leaving you feeling quite alone.
Now, you’re attending your grandson’s school play. And the children’s singing goes quiet. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, they even occasionally drain after a couple of days.
It’s not just inconvenient. You’re losing out on life because you don’t know how much juice is left in your hearing aids.
If your hearing aid batteries die too quickly, check out these seven possible culprits.
Moisture can kill a battery
Releasing moisture through our skin is one thing that humans do that the majority of other species don’t. It’s a cooling mechanism. You do it to get rid of 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 get plugged by this extra moisture which can cause less efficient performance. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity.
Prevent battery drain related to moisture with these steps:
- Keep your hearing aids in a place where moisture is minimum
- Before you go to bed, open up the battery door
- Use a dehumidifier
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for a few days
Sophisticated modern features are power intensive
Current digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But these added features can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not paying attention.
Don’t quit using your favorite features. But just know that if you stream music all day from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to replace the battery sooner.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra functions can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can affect batteries as well
Your batteries can be quickly depleted when you have a quick climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. When flying, climbing, or skiing remember to bring some spares.
Is the battery actually drained?
Many hearing aids will warn you when the batteries need to be replaced. As a general rule, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They aren’t telling you the battery is dead. Additionally, you may get a warning when the charge drops because of an altitude or humidity change.
You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There may be hours or even days of juice left.
Handling the batteries improperly
You should never pull off the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be a problem for batteries so wash up before you handle them. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other types of batteries.
Basic handling mistakes like these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
Purchasing in bulk is usually a smart money decision when you can afford to do it. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries most likely won’t last as long. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
Buying hearing aid batteries online
This isn’t a broad critique of buying stuff online. You can get some really good deals. But you will also find some less honest sellers who will sell batteries that are close to or even past their expiration date.
Most types of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. When you buy milk, you wouldn’t forget to look at the expiration date. 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 usage out of the pack.
If the website doesn’t declare an expiration date, message the seller, or buy batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid center where you can see it on the packaging. Make sure you look for reviews to be certain you’re buying from a trustworthy source.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no longer
Hearing aid batteries may drain more quickly for several reasons. But by taking small precautions you can get more power from each battery. And if you’re considering an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You will get a full day of power after each night of recharging. The rechargeable batteries only need to be replaced every few years.