Hearing Aid Batteries Dying Too Fast?

Man touching hearing aids that stopped working because the batteries drained.

Do you feel like your hearing aid batteries won’t keep a charge as long as they should? Here are some surprising reasons that could happen.What is the average period of time that your hearing aid batteries should stay charged? The ordinary hearing aid battery should last anywhere from 3 to 7 days. That range is fairly wide. So wide, actually, that it’s unpredictable and puts you in a serious predicament. Things could suddenly go quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the supermarket after 4 days of battery power. Or it’s day 5 and you’re enjoying a call with friends when unexpectedly you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer hear the conversation. Now, you’re watching TV. You can no longer hear the news. Hold on, it’s only day 2. Yes, occasionally they even die before that 3-day mark. It isn’t just inconvenient. You simply can’t tell how much battery power you have left in your hearing aids and it’s causing you to miss out on life. Here are the most likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain too soon.

Moisture Can Drain a Battery

Did you realize that humans are one of the few species that produce moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling mechanism. We do it to clear out excess sodium or toxins in the blood. You might also live in a climate that is moist and humid. This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making it less reliable. Moisture can also mix with the chemicals of the battery causing it to deplete faster. Here are some steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:

  • A dehumidifier for your hearing aid is recommended
  • Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other damp environments
  • if your storing them for a number of days or more, take the batteries out
  • When you store your hearing aids, open the battery door

Advanced Hearing Aid Functions Can Drain Batteries

You get a much better hearing aid nowadays than you did even ten years ago. But if you’re not keeping your eye on them, these advanced functions can cause faster battery drain. You can still use your favorite features. But bear in mind, you will need to change the battery sooner if you are streaming music from your phone all day. Your battery can be drained by any of the advanced functions, like multichannel, Bluetooth, noise cancellation, and tinnitus relief.

Batteries Can be Impacted by Altitude Changes

Your batteries can be drained if you go from low to high altitudes specifically if they are already low on juice. When skiing, flying or climbing always takes some spare batteries.

Perhaps The Batteries Aren’t Really Low

Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is low. These alerts are, under normal circumstances, a “heads up”. It doesn’t mean you have a dead battery. In addition, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude temporarily causes the charge to drop and the low battery alarm gets triggered. In order to stop the alarm, remove the batteries, and then put them back in. The battery may last a few more hours or even days.

Handling Batteries Improperly

You should not take out 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 hand oil or dirt on them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t lengthen their life as it could with other kinds of batteries. Hearing aid batteries may lose battery power more quickly if you make these basic handling errors.

Buying a Year’s Supply of Batteries Isn’t a Very Good Idea

If you can afford to do it, buying in bulk can be a smart plan. But as you come to the end of the pack, the last several batteries likely won’t last as long. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with wasting a few.

Buying Hearing Aid Batteries on The Web

This isn’t a general criticism of buying 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 people and are close to their expiration date. Or worse, they are already passed. So buyer beware.
There’s an expiration date on both zinc and alkaline batteries. You shouldn’t buy milk without checking the expiration. You need to do that with batteries too. If you’re going to get the most from your pack, be sure the date is well in the future. It’s probably a good idea to message the vendor if there isn’t an expiration date or even better, come see us for your battery needs. Only buy batteries from trusted sources.

Now You Can Get Rechargeable Hearing Aids

There are several reasons that hearing batteries could drain rapidly. But you can get more life out of your batteries by taking some precautions. If you’re looking to buy a new set of hearing aids, you might consider a rechargeable model. If you charge them while you sleep, you get a full day of hearing the next day. And you only need to change them every few years.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.