Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain faster than they ought to? There are several reasons why this might be taking place that may be surprising.
How long should hearing aid batteries last? The standard hearing aid battery lasts anywhere between 3 and 7 days.
That range is pretty wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament.
You may be at the store on day 4. Unexpectedly, your sound cuts out. The cashier is talking to you but you don’t hear what they are saying.
Or, you’re out for dinner with friends on day 5. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear the conversation.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. You can no longer hear the children singing. Wait, it’s just day 2. Yes, sometimes they even drain before the 3rd day.
It isn’t just inconvenient. 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, check out these seven possible culprits.
Moisture can drain a battery
Did you realize that human beings are one of the few species that release moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling mechanism. You do it to remove extra sodium or toxins in the blood. In addition, you might live in a humid or rainy environment 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 interact with the chemicals that make electricity causing it to drain even faster.
Here are a few steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- Keep your hearing aids in a place where moisture is minimum
- A dehumidifier is helpful
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for several days
- Before going to bed, open the battery door
Advanced modern features are power intensive
Even a decade ago, hearing aids were a lot less helpful for individuals with hearing loss than current devices. But these extra functions can cause batteries to drain more quickly if you’re not watching.
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 need to replace the battery sooner.
All these added features, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery more quickly.
Altitude changes can affect batteries as well
Your batteries can be quickly depleted when you have a quick climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. Make sure you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on an aircraft.
Maybe the batteries aren’t really 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. In addition, you might get a warning when the charge drops due to an altitude or humidity change.
Take out the hearing aids and reset them to stop the alarm. There may be hours or even days of power left.
Handling the batteries incorrectly
You shouldn’t pull off the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Make sure you wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries so you don’t get hand oil or dirt on them. Keep your batteries away from the freezer. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other types of batteries.
Hearing aids will drain more quickly if you mishandle them in these ways.
Buying a year’s supply of batteries isn’t a great idea
Buying in bulk is usually a smart money choice when you can afford it. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last few batteries likely won’t last as long. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
Online battery vendors
This isn’t a broad critique of buying stuff on the internet. You can get some really good deals. But you will also come across some less honest vendors who will sell batteries that are close to or even past their expiration date.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have expiration dates. You wouldn’t buy milk without looking at the expiration. You shouldn’t do that with batteries either. Be certain that the date is well in the future to get the most usage out of the pack.
If the website doesn’t state an expiration date, message the seller, or purchase batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid center where you can see it on the box. Make sure you look for reviews to be certain you’re purchasing from a trustworthy source.
The batteries in hearing aids no longer drain quickly
Hearing aid batteries might drain faster for numerous reasons. But by taking little precautions you can get more energy from each battery. You might also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re shopping for a new pair. You dock these hearing aids on a charger every night for an entire day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only have to be replaced every few years.