Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries lose their charge too quickly? The reasons for this are sometimes unexpected.How long should hearing aid batteries keep a charge? Anywhere from 3 to 7 days is normal. That’s a really wide range. So wide, actually, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a significant predicament. You may be on day 4 at the grocery store when all of a sudden, things get quiet and you’re unable to hear the cashier. Or it’s day 5 and you’re enjoying a call with friends when all of a sudden you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear 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 watching. It isn’t just annoying. You’re missing out on life because you’re not sure how much battery power is left in your hearing aids. Here are the likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Moisture Can Deplete a Battery
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that release moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling method. It’s the body’s way of ridding the blood of toxins and sodium. In addition, you might 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 drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that generate electricity. You can avoid moisture-related battery drainage with these steps:
- When you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- Don’t leave the batteries in when you’re storing them for several days
- A dehumidifier for your hearing aid is helpful
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other moist conditions
Batteries Can be Depleted by Advanced Hearing Aid Functions
Current digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that you could get just 10 years ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to run down faster if you’re not paying attention. Don’t avoid using your favorite features. But just know that if you stream music for hours from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to change the battery sooner. Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief, noise canceling — all of these additional features can drain your battery.
Batteries Can be Affected by Altitude Changes
Going from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, especially 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 models will give you a warning when the battery starts to get too low. Generally, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. In addition, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude briefly causes the charge to drop and the low battery alert gets triggered. Take the hearing aids out and reset them to stop the alarm. The battery may last a few more hours or even days.
Improper Handling of Batteries
Wait until you’re ready to use your hearing aid to pull the tab from the battery. Make sure you wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to avoid getting dirt or hand oil on them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. This trick might extend the life of some types of battery but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries. Basic handling errors such as these can cause hearing aid batteries to drain more quickly.
It’s Not a Good Idea to Buy a Year’s Supply of Batteries
When you can afford to do it, purchasing in bulk can be a smart plan. But the last few batteries in the pack most likely won’t have full power. Unless you don’t mind wasting a few, try to stick to a six month supply.
Purchasing Hearing Aid Batteries Online
Shopping from the web can be a good thing. You can get some great deals. But some less scrupulous people sell batteries online that are very close to the expiration date. They may even be beyond their expiration date. So buyer beware.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. If you were going to buy milk, you would check the expiration date. You have to use the same amount of caution 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 state an expiration date, send the online vendor a message, or purchase batteries directly from us. Only purchase batteries from reputable sources.
Modern Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
There are a number of reasons that hearing batteries could drain rapidly. But by taking little precautions you can get more life from each battery. If you’re looking to buy a new set of hearing aids, you might decide on a rechargeable model. You dock them on a charger each night for a full day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only have to be replaced every few years.