Do you feel like your hearing aid batteries won’t keep a charge as long as they should? Here are a few unexpected reasons that might occur.How long should hearing aid batteries keep a charge? 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 happening with your hearing aid. Things could 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 enjoying a conversation with friends when you suddenly feel very alone because you can’t participate because you can’t hear. Now, you’re watching the TV. All of a sudden you can’t hear the news. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, occasionally they even drain before that 3-day mark. It’s more than a little inconvenient. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much battery power you have left in your hearing aids. If your hearing aid batteries are draining too quickly, there are a small number of likely culprits.
A Battery Can be Drained by Moisture
Did you realize that humans are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? We do it to cool off. It’s the body’s way of purging the blood of sodium and toxins. You may also live in a climate that’s humid and moist. The air vent in your hearing aid can become clogged by this added moisture and it will be less efficient. Moisture can also interact with the chemicals of the battery causing it to deplete faster. Here are a few measures you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- When you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- A dehumidifier for your hearing aid is recommended
- if your storing them for a few days or more, take the batteries out
- Moist environments, like the kitchen or bathroom aren’t a good place to keep your hearing aids
Advanced Hearing Aid Features Can Deplete Batteries
You get a much better hearing aid today than you did even 10 years ago. But if you’re not paying attention, these advanced features can cause faster battery drain. You can still use your favorite features. But bear in mind, you will have to replace the battery sooner if you are streaming music from your phone for hours. Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra functions can deplete your battery.
Altitude Changes Can Impact Batteries Too
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, especially if they’re on their older. Bring some spare batteries if you are going on a plane or high up into the mountains.
It’s Possible That The Batteries Aren’t Really Low
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is running low. These warnings are, under normal circumstances, a “heads up”. It doesn’t mean you have a dead battery. Also, the charge can sometimes drop briefly due to altitude or environmental changes and that can cause a false low battery warning. Take the hearing aids out and reset them to stop the alarm. You may be able to get a few more hours or even days out of that battery.
Improper Handling of Batteries
Wait until you’re about to use your hearing aid to remove the tab from the battery. Steer clear of getting dirt and skin oil on your hearing aid by washing your hands before handling them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t lengthen their life as it could with other types of batteries. Hearing aid batteries might lose battery power quicker if you make these simple handling mistakes.
Buying a Year’s Supply of Batteries Isn’t a Very Good Plan
Buying in bulk is usually a smart money move when you can afford to do it. But the last few batteries in the pack most likely won’t have full power. Try to stay with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
Purchasing Hearing Aid Batteries Online
Buying online can be a good thing. There are some pretty good deals out in cyberspace. But some batteries that are available online are being sold by less honest people and are near their expiration date. They might even be beyond their expiration date. So you need to be careful.
There’s an expiration date on both zinc and alkaline batteries. You wouldn’t buy milk without looking at the expiration. You should do that with batteries also. Be certain that the date is not close to the expiration to get the most use out of the pack. If the website doesn’t mention an expiration date, message the vendor, or purchase batteries directly from us. Only purchase batteries from reputable sources.
Today You Can Get Rechargeable Hearing Aids
There are a number of reasons that hearing batteries might drain rapidly. But you can get more power from your batteries by taking some precautions. You might also think about rechargeable hearing aids if you’re going to buy a new set. You put them on a charger each night for a full charge the next day. And you only need to replace them every few years.