Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries lose their charge too fast? Here are a few unexpected reasons that might happen.How long should hearing aid batteries keep a charge? Anywhere from 3 to 7 days is normal. That’s a really wide range. As a matter of fact, it’s so wide that it probably doesn’t help you predict what should be going on with your hearing aid. Things might suddenly get quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the supermarket after 4 days of battery power. Or perhaps on day 5, you’re having an enjoyable conversation with friends when you suddenly feel very alone because you can’t participate because you can’t hear. 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 watching. It’s more than a little inconvenient. You simply can’t tell how much battery power your hearing aids have left and it’s making you miss out on life. Here are the most likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain too soon.
Moisture Can Deplete a Battery
Did you realize that humans are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? We do it to cool off. We do it to clear out excess toxins or sodium in the blood. In addition, you may live in a humid or rainy climate where things get even more moist. The air vent in your hearing aid can get clogged by this additional moisture and it will be less efficient. It can even deplete the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that produce electricity. Here are some measures you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other damp environments
- Open the battery door before storing the hearing aids
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a number of days
- Get a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
Batteries Can be Depleted by Advanced Hearing Aid Features
Current digital hearing aids help people hear a lot better than ones that you could get just a decade ago. But if you’re not keeping your eye on them, these advanced features can cause faster battery drain. Don’t stop using your favorite features. But just know that if you stream music all day from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll have to replace the battery sooner. Your battery can be depleted by any of the advanced features, like Bluetooth, multichannel, noise cancellation, and tinnitus relief.
Batteries Can be Affected by Altitude Changes
Going from a low to high altitude can drain your batteries, specifically if they’re on their last leg. When flying, skiing or climbing always brings some spare batteries.
Maybe The Batteries Aren’t Really Low
Some models will give you a warning when the battery starts to get too low. Generally, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. It doesn’t mean you have a depleted battery. Furthermore, the charge can at times dip temporarily due to altitude or environmental changes and that can cause a false low battery warning. In order to end the alarm, remove the batteries, and then put them back in. You might be able to get several more hours or possibly even days out of that battery.
Improper Handling of Batteries
You should never remove the little tab from the battery until you’re ready to use it. Always wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to protect against getting dirt or hand oil on them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t increase their life as it might with other kinds of batteries. Hearing aid batteries might lose battery power quicker if you make these simple handling errors.
It’s Not a Good Idea to Purchase a Year’s Supply of Batteries
Buying in bulk is usually a smart money move if you can afford to do it. But as you come to the end of the pack, the last few batteries likely won’t last as long. Try to stay with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with the waste.
Buying Hearing Aid Batteries on The Internet
It’s not a general criticism of purchasing stuff on the web. You can get some great deals. But some batteries that are available on the internet are being sold by less honest individuals and are near their expiration date. Or even worse, it has already passed. So you need to be cautious.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. If you were going to buy milk, you would look at the expiration date. You have to use the same amount of caution with batteries. If you want to get the most from your pack, be certain the date is well in the future. If the website doesn’t mention an expiration date, message the vendor, or buy batteries from us. Only purchase batteries from reliable sources.
Current Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
There are a number of reasons that hearing batteries may drain rapidly. But you can get more power from your batteries by taking some precautions. 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 hearing the next day. And you only need to change them every few years.