Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die faster than they ought to? Here are some unexpected reasons that may occur.
So how long should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? The typical 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 could be on day 4 at the grocery store. Suddenly, things get quiet. The cashier is talking 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 hear the conversation.
Now, you’re at your grandchild’s school play. And the kid’s singing disappears. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before the 3rd day.
It’s more than inconvenient. You have no clue how much power 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.
Your Battery can be drained by moisture
Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that human beings do that most other species don’t. It’s a cooling mechanism. You do it to eliminate excess sodium or toxins in the blood. On top of this, you might live in a rainy humid environment where things get even wetter.
This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making hearing aids less efficient. It can even interact with the chemicals that produce electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Prevent battery drain caused by moisture with these steps:
- Before going to bed, open the battery door
- A dehumidifier is helpful
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for a prolonged period of time, remove the batteries
Sophisticated modern features are power intensive
Current digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out just a decade ago. But when these sophisticated features are being used, they can be a drain 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.
All these added features, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery more quickly.
Altitude changes can impact batteries as well
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a quick climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. Make sure you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on a plane.
Is the battery really drained?
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is low. Generally, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity briefly causes the charge to drop and the low battery alarm will sound.
Take out the hearing aids and reset them to stop the alarm. You might be able to get several more hours or even days out of that battery.
Incorrect handling of batteries
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. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. This may extend the life of other batteries but that’s not the case with hearing aid batteries.
Hearing aids will drain faster 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 as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries most likely won’t last as long. It can be a waste to purchase any more than a 6 month supply.
Online battery vendors
This isn’t a broad critique of buying things online. You can get some great deals. 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. When you buy milk, you wouldn’t forget to look at the expiration date. The same goes with batteries. Make sure that the date is well in the future to get the most use out of the pack.
If you buy your batteries at a hearing aid center or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the packaging, but if you are going to shop on the internet be sure the seller states when the batteries will expire. Only purchase batteries from trustworthy sources.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no longer
There are numerous reasons that hearing aid batteries may drain quickly. But you can get more power from each battery by taking little precautions. And if you’re considering an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You will get an entire day of power after every night of recharging. Every few years, you will need to change the rechargeable batteries.