Do your hearing aid batteries seem to die faster than they should? Here are some surprising reasons that might happen.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The typical hearing aid battery lasts anywhere between 3 and 7 days.
That’s a very wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament.
You could be on day 4 at the grocery store. Unexpectedly, your sound cuts out. The cashier is speaking to you but you can’t hear what they are saying.
Or, you’re out for lunch with friends on day 5. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear what your friends are saying.
Now, you’re at your grandson’s school play. And the kid’s singing goes quiet. But it’s only day 2. Yes, they even sometimes die after a couple of days.
It’s more than annoying. You have no clue how much juice is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
If your hearing aid batteries drain too quickly, look to these seven possible causes.
Moisture can drain a battery
Did you realize that human beings are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling mechanism. It also helps clear the blood of excess toxins and sodium. On top of this, you may live in a rainy humid climate where things get even wetter.
This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, affecting the hearing aid’s efficiency. It can even kill the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that make electricity.
Here are a few steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for a few days
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen
- Get a dehumidifier
- Before going to bed, open up the battery door
Advanced modern features are power intensive
Even a decade ago, hearing aids were a lot less helpful for people with hearing loss than modern devices. But these extra features can cause batteries to drain more quickly if you’re not paying attention.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use these amazing features. But just know that if you stream music all day from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to replace the battery sooner.
All these extra functions, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery faster.
Batteries can be affected by altitude changes
Your batteries can be drained quickly when you have a quick climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is especially true. Make sure you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on an aircraft.
Perhaps the batteries aren’t actually drained
Many hearing aids will warn you when the batteries need to be replaced. As a general rule, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They aren’t telling you the battery is dead. Moreover, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude briefly causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm will sound.
You can stop the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There may be hours or even days of power left.
Incorrect handling of batteries
Wait until it’s time to use the battery before you pull off the protective tab. Always wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to avoid getting hand oil or dirt on them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. This might increase the life of other batteries but that’s not the case with hearing aid batteries.
Simple handling errors like these can make hearing aid batteries drain faster.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
Purchasing in bulk is often a smart money choice when you can afford it. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries likely won’t last as long. Try to limit yourself to a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
Buying hearing aid batteries from the internet
We’re not suggesting it’s automatically a bad idea to purchase things online. You can find a lot of bargains. But some less scrupulous people will sell batteries on the internet that are very near to the expiration date. Or worse, it has already passed.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. You wouldn’t buy milk without looking at the expiration. The same goes with batteries. Make sure that the date is far enough in the future to get the most use out of the pack.
If the website doesn’t declare an expiration date, message the seller, or purchase batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid store where you can see it on the box. Make sure you look for reviews to be certain you’re buying from a reputable source.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
There are several reasons that hearing aid batteries could drain quickly. But by taking small precautions you can get more energy out of each battery. And if you’re considering an upgrade, consider rechargeable hearing aids. You dock these hearing aids on a charger each night for a full day of hearing tomorrow. The rechargeable batteries only need to be swapped out every few years.