Do you feel like your hearing aid batteries won’t keep a charge as long as they should? Here are some surprising reasons that could occur. How long should hearing aid batteries last? Between 3 to 7 days is normal. That range is fairly wide. So wide, actually, that it’s unpredictable and puts you in a challenging predicament. Things might suddenly get quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the grocery store after 4 days of battery power. Or perhaps on day 5, you’re having an enjoyable conversation with friends when you suddenly feel really alone because you can’t hear what anyone is saying. Now, you’re watching TV. All of a sudden you can’t hear the news. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before that 3-day mark. It’s more than a little inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you don’t know how much battery power is left in your hearing aids. Here are the likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
A Battery Can be Drained by Moisture
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? 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’s moist and humid. The air vent in your hearing aid can get clogged by this extra moisture and it will be less efficient. It can even deplete the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that create electricity. You can prevent moisture-related battery drainage with these steps:
- Don’t leave the batteries in when you’re storing them for a few days
- Before you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other moist environments
- Get a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
Advanced Hearing Aid Features Can Drain Batteries
You get a much better hearing aid now than you did even ten years ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to run down faster if you’re not keeping an eye on them. Don’t avoid using your favorite features. But just know that if you stream music for hours from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to change the battery sooner. Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added functions can deplete your battery.
Batteries Can be Affected by Altitude Changes
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, particularly if they’re on their last leg. Take some spare batteries if you are going on a plane or high up into the mountains.
Perhaps The Batteries Aren’t Really Low
Some models will give you an alert when the battery starts to get too low. These alerts are, ordinarily, a “heads up”. It doesn’t mean you have a depleted battery. Additionally, the charge can sometimes dip temporarily due to environmental or altitude changes and that can trigger a false low battery warning. In order to end the alarm, remove the batteries, and then put them back in. The battery might last several more hours or even days.
Handling Batteries Improperly
You should never take out the little tab from the battery until you’re ready to use it. Make sure you wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to protect against getting hand oil or dirt on them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other types of batteries. Hearing aid batteries might lose battery power quicker if you make these simple handling errors.
Buying a Year’s Supply of Batteries Isn’t a Very Good Idea
If you can afford to do it, purchasing in bulk can be a smart plan. But the last few batteries in the pack probably won’t have full power. Unless you don’t mind wasting a few, try to stay with a six month supply.
Shopping For Hearing Aid Batteries on The Internet
Buying from the web can be a good thing. There are some really great deals out in cyberspace. But some less scrupulous people sell batteries on the internet that are very near to the expiration date. Or even worse, it has already passed. So buyer beware.
There’s an expiration date on both zinc and alkaline batteries. If you were going to buy milk, you would look at the expiration date. You need to use the same amount of caution with batteries. Be sure that the date is well in the future to get the most use out of the pack. If the website doesn’t specify an expiration date, send the online vendor a message, or buy batteries from us. Only purchase batteries from reputable sources.
Today You Can Get Rechargeable Hearing Aids
There are several reasons that hearing batteries could drain quickly. But you can get more life from your batteries by taking some precautions. You might also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re going to buy a new set. You dock them on a charger every night for a full charge the next day. The rechargeable batteries only have to be changed every few years.