Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries drain way too quickly? Here are a few surprising reasons that could happen.What is the average length of time that your hearing aid batteries should stay charged? Between 3 to 7 days is normal. That range is pretty wide. In fact, it’s so wide that it probably won’t help you predict what should be going on with your hearing aid. Things could suddenly get quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the supermarket after 4 days of battery power. Or it’s day 5 and you’re having a call with friends when suddenly you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer follow the conversation. Occasionally the batteries don’t even make 3 days. Like when you’re watching TV on day 2 and suddenly you can’t hear the show your that’s on. It’s more than a little inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much juice is left in your hearing aids. If your hearing aid batteries are draining too rapidly, there are a small number of likely causes.
Moisture Can Drain a Battery
There aren’t very many species that release moisture through their skin but humans do. We do it to cool off. It’s the body’s way of ridding the blood of toxins and sodium. On top of this, you might live in a rainy or humid climate where things get even more moist. This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making it less reliable. Moisture can also mix with the chemicals of the battery causing it to drain faster. You can avoid moisture-related battery drainage with these steps:
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other moist environments
- Get a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a few days
- When you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
Advanced Hearing Aid Features Can Drain Batteries
Modern digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that you could get just a decade ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to drain faster if you’re not paying attention. You can still use your favorite features. But be aware that if you stream music all day from your mobile device to your hearing aids, you’ll have to change the battery sooner. Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added functions can drain your battery.
Batteries Can be Affected by Altitude Changes
Your batteries can be drained if you go from low to high altitudes particularly if they are already low on juice. When skiing, flying or climbing always takes some extra batteries.
Maybe The Batteries Aren’t Really Low
Some models will give you an alert when the battery begins to get too low. Generally, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. Furthermore, the charge can sometimes dip temporarily due to altitude or environmental changes and that can activate a false low battery warning. In order to stop the alarm, take the batteries out, and then put them back in. The battery might last a few more hours or even days.
Improper Handling of Batteries
Wait until you’re about to use your hearing aid to remove the tab from the battery. Make sure you wash your hands before touching your hearing aids or batteries to protect against getting hand oil or dirt on them. Hearing aid batteries should not be frozen. This trick may extend the life of some kinds of battery but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries. Basic handling errors like these can make hearing aid batteries drain more quickly.
It’s Not a Good Plan to Buy a Year’s Supply of Batteries
Buying in bulk is often a smart money decision if you can afford to do it. But the last few batteries in the pack most likely won’t have full power. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with wasting a few.
Buying Hearing Aid Batteries on The Web
Buying from the web can be a good thing. You can get some great deals. But some batteries that can be found online are being sold by less honest individuals and are near their expiration date. They might even be past their expiration date. So you need to be careful.
There’s an expiration date on both alkaline and zinc batteries. You shouldn’t buy milk without looking at the expiration. You have to use the same amount of care with batteries. If you’re going to get the most out of your pack, be sure the date is well in the future. If the website doesn’t mention an expiration date, message the vendor, or purchase batteries directly from us. Only buy batteries from trusted sources.
Now You Can Get Rechargeable Hearing Aids
There are several reasons that hearing batteries might drain rapidly. But by taking little precautions you can get more energy out of each battery. You may also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re in the market for a new set. If you charge them at night, you get a full day of power the next day. And you only need to change them every few years.