Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain faster than they should? There are several reasons why this may be happening that may be surprising.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? From 3 to 7 days is the typical time-frame for charge to last.
That range is pretty wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament.
You may be at market on day 4. All of a sudden, you can’t hear anything. The cashier is talking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or it’s day 5. You’re appreciating a night out with friends. All of a sudden, you can’t hear the conversation and it’s leaving you feeling rather alone.
Maybe you go to your grandchild’s school to watch a play. And the children’s singing disappears. But it’s only day 2. Yes, they even occasionally die after a couple of days.
It isn’t just inconvenient. You have no idea how much power is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 possible causes if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Moisture can drain a battery
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that discharge moisture through their skin? 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 setting.
The air vent in your device can become clogged by this extra moisture which can result in less efficient performance. It can even kill the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity.
Here are a few steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- Before you go to bed, open the battery door
- A dehumidifier can be helpful
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended period of time, remove the batteries
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
Advanced modern features are power intensive
Modern digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out only a decade ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not watching.
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 change the battery sooner.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added features can drain your battery.
Altitude changes can impact batteries too
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a rapid climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is especially true. When flying, skiing, or climbing always takes some spares.
Is the battery actually drained?
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is low. These warnings, as a general rule, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re simply a heads up. In addition, you may get a warning when the charge drops due to an altitude or humidity change.
Take the hearing aids out and reset them to stop the alarm. There could be hours or even days of juice left.
Improper handling of batteries
You shouldn’t remove the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Make sure you wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to avoid getting hand oil or dirt on them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. This might increase the life of other batteries but that’s not the case with hearing aid batteries.
Basic handling errors like these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
Purchasing a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a great idea
It’s often a wise financial decision to purchase in bulk. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries most likely won’t last as long. Try to limit yourself to a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
Online battery vendors
We’re not saying it’s automatically a bad idea to buy things on the internet. You can get some great deals. But some less honest people will sell batteries on the internet that are very close to the expiration date. Or worse, it has already gone by.
Most types of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. You wouldn’t purchase milk without checking when it expires. The same goes with batteries. Make sure that the date is far enough in the future to get the most usage out of the pack.
If you buy your batteries at a hearing aid store or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the packaging, but if you are going to shop on the internet make sure the seller specifies when the batteries will expire. Make sure you check reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a trustworthy source.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
Hearing aid batteries may drain faster for several reasons. But by taking small precautions you can get more power from each battery. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new set. You will get a full day of power after every night of recharging. The rechargeable batteries only need to be swapped out every few years.