Do you feel like your hearing aid batteries are not keeping a charge as long as they should? Here are a few surprising reasons that might occur. How long should hearing aid batteries keep a charge? The typical hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days. That’s a really wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament. You might be on day 4 at the grocery store when suddenly, things go quiet and you’re unable to hear the cashier. Or maybe on day 5, you’re having an enjoyable conversation with friends when you suddenly feel really alone because you can’t hear what anyone is saying. Sometimes the batteries don’t even make that 3 day mark. Like when you’re watching TV on day 2 and all of a sudden you can’t hear the show your watching. It’s more than a little inconvenient. You simply can’t tell how much battery power you have left in your hearing aids and it’s making you miss out on life. Here are the most likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Moisture Can Deplete a Battery
There aren’t many species that produce moisture through their skin but humans do. It’s a cooling mechanism. It’s the body’s way of purging the blood of toxins and sodium. You might also live in a climate that’s humid and moist. The air vent in your hearing aid can get clogged by this added moisture and it will be 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:
- Moist conditions, like the kitchen or bathroom aren’t a good place to keep your hearing aids
- Open the battery door when you store the hearing aids
- Get a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a few days
Advanced Hearing Aid Features Can Drain Batteries
You get a much better hearing aid nowadays than you did even a decade ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to run down faster if you’re not paying attention. You can still use 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. 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
Your batteries can be drained if you go from low to high altitudes especially if they are already low on juice. Bring some spare 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. As a general rule, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. Moreover, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity temporarily causes the charge to drop and the low battery alert gets triggered. In order to stop the alarm, take the batteries out, and then put them back in. You may be able to get a few more hours or even days out of that battery.
Improper Handling of Batteries
Wait until you’re ready to use your hearing aid to pull the tab from the battery. Avoid getting skin oil and dirt on your hearing aid by cleansing your hands before handling them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. This technique may extend the life of some types of battery but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries. Hearing aid batteries might lose battery power quicker if you make these simple handling errors.
It’s Not a Good Plan to Purchase a Year’s Supply of Batteries
Buying in bulk is typically a smart money move if you can afford to do it. But the last few batteries in the pack probably won’t have full power. Try to stay with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with wasting a few.
Purchasing Hearing Aid Batteries on The Internet
It’s not an over-all criticism of buying things on the internet. You can get some good deals. But some batteries that you can find on the internet are being sold by less honest individuals and are near their expiration date. Or worse, it has already passed. So buyer beware.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have a date they will expire. If you were going to buy milk, you would check the expiration date. You should use the same amount of care with batteries. If you want to get the most from your pack, make sure the date is well in the future. If the website doesn’t specify an expiration date, message the vendor, or buy batteries from us. Be sure you know and trust the seller.
Current Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
There are several reasons that hearing batteries may drain quickly. But you can get more power out of your batteries by taking some precautions. You might also think about rechargeable hearing aids if you’re going to buy a new set. You dock them on a charger each night for a full day of hearing the next day. And you only need to change them every few years.