Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain faster than they ought to? There are several reasons why this may be happening that might be unexpected.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery last? From 3 to 7 days is the standard amount of time for charge to last.
That range is fairly wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You could be on day 4 at the supermarket store. All of a sudden, you can’t hear anything. The cashier is speaking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or it’s day 5. You’re appreciating a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer follow what your friends are saying.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. You can no longer hear the children singing. But it’s only day 2. Yes, occasionally they even drain before that 3-day mark.
It’s more than annoying. You have no idea how much juice is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
If your hearing aid batteries die too quickly, look to these seven possible causes.
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 get rid of excess sodium or toxins in the blood. Your battery may be subjected to even more moisture if you live in a humid or rainy place.
This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, affecting the hearing aid’s efficiency. It can even interact with the chemicals that make electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Here are a few steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended period of time, take out the batteries
- Get a dehumidifier
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
- Before going to bed, open the battery door
Sophisticated modern features are power intensive
Even a decade ago, hearing aids were much less helpful for individuals with hearing loss than current devices. But when these sophisticated functions are being used, they can be a draw on battery power.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use these amazing 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 added functions can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can affect batteries too
Going from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, especially if they’re on their last leg. When flying, climbing, or skiing always takes some spares.
Is the battery actually drained?
Many hearing aids will alert 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 briefly causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm will sound.
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.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
You should never remove the little tab from the battery if you’re not ready to use it. Make sure you wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries so you don’t get hand oil or dirt on them. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other types of batteries.
Hearing aids will drain faster if you mishandle them in these ways.
Buying a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a good idea
Buying in bulk is usually a smart money choice when you can afford it. But you can anticipate that the last several batteries in the pack won’t last as long. It can be a waste to buy any more than a 6 month supply.
Online battery vendors
We’re not suggesting it’s always a bad idea to buy things on the internet. You can get some great deals. But you will also come across some less honest sellers who will sell batteries that are near to or even past their expiration date.
Most kinds of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. When you buy milk, you wouldn’t forget to look at the expiration date. The same goes with batteries. In order to get the most from your battery, make sure 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 box. Only buy batteries from reputable sources.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries could drain quickly. But you can get more power from each battery by taking small precautions. You might also think about rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new set. You put these hearing aids on a charger each night for a full day of hearing the next day. Every few years, you will have to replace the rechargeable batteries.
