Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries lose their charge too quickly? Here are some unexpected reasons that could occur.What is the average length of time that your hearing aid batteries should stay charged? Between 3 to 7 days is typical. That range is pretty wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a challenging predicament. Things might suddenly go quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the grocery store after 4 days of battery power. Or it’s day 5 and you’re having a call with friends when all of a sudden you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer follow the conversation. Sometimes the batteries don’t even make 3 days. Like when you’re watching TV on day 2 and all of a sudden you can’t hear the show your that’s on. It isn’t just inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you don’t know how much battery power you have left in your hearing aids. Here are the most likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries die too soon.
Moisture Can Drain a Battery
There aren’t many species that release moisture through their skin but humans do. It’s a cooling method. We do it to clear out excess toxins or sodium in the blood. You might also live in a climate that is humid and moist. The air vent in your hearing aid can get clogged by this additional moisture and it will be less effective. It can even deplete the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals which generate electricity. You can avoid moisture-related battery drainage with these measures:
- Before you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- if your storing them for a number of days or more, remove the batteries
- Get a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
- Moist conditions, like the kitchen or bathroom are not a good place to keep your hearing aids
Batteries Can be Drained by Advanced Hearing Aid Features
You get a much better hearing aid today than you did even 10 years ago. But if you’re not keeping your eye on them, these advanced functions can cause faster battery drain. Don’t avoid using your favorite features. But remember, you will have to replace the battery sooner if you are streaming music from your phone for hours. Your battery can be drained by any of the advanced features, like multichannel, Bluetooth, noise cancellation, and tinnitus relief.
Batteries Can be Impacted by Altitude Changes
Moving from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, particularly if they’re on their older. Take some extra batteries if you are going on a plane or high up into the mountains.
Are The Batteries Really Low?
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is running low. Generally, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not actually saying the battery is dead. Additionally, the charge can occasionally dip temporarily due to environmental or altitude changes and that can cause a false low battery warning. Take the hearing aids out and reset them to end the alarm. The battery might last a few more hours or even days.
Improper Handling of Batteries
You should not remove the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Avoid getting dirt and skin oil on your hearing aid by cleansing your hands before handling them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t lengthen their life as it could with other kinds of batteries. Hearing aid batteries may lose battery power faster if you make these basic handling errors.
It isn’t a Good Idea to Buy a Year’s Supply of Batteries
If you can afford to do it, buying in bulk can be a smart idea. But as you come to the end of the pack, the last few batteries most likely won’t be at full power. Unless you’re fine with wasting a few, try to stick to a six month supply.
Shopping For Hearing Aid Batteries on The Web
It’s not a broad critique of purchasing things online. There are some pretty good deals out in cyberspace. But some batteries that you can find online are being sold by less honest individuals and are near their expiration date. Or worse, it has already passed. So buyer beware.
There’s an expiration date on both alkaline and zinc batteries. If you were going to buy milk, you would check the expiration date. You need to use the same amount of caution with batteries. If you want to get the most out of your pack, make sure the date is well in the future. It’s probably a good idea to message the vendor if there isn’t an expiration date or better yet, come see us for your battery needs. Make sure you know and trust the seller.
Current Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
Hearing aids could drain too rapidly for a number of reasons. But by taking little precautions you can get more energy from each battery. You might also think about rechargeable hearing aids if you’re going to buy a new set. If you charge them while you sleep, you get a full day of power the next day. And you only have to replace them every few years.