Does it seem as if your hearing aid batteries lose their charge too fast? Here are some surprising reasons that could occur.What is the average length of time that your hearing aid batteries should stay charged? Between 3 to 7 days is normal. That’s a really wide range. So wide, actually, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious predicament. Things might suddenly go quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the grocery store after 4 days of battery power. Or maybe on day 5, you’re having an enjoyable conversation with friends when you suddenly feel very alone because you can’t participate because you can’t hear. Occasionally 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 not just annoying. You simply can’t tell how much battery power your hearing aids have left and it’s making you miss out on life. If your hearing aid batteries are draining too rapidly, there are a few likely culprits.
A Battery Can be Depleted by Moisture
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 get rid of excess toxins or sodium in the blood. You might also live in a climate that is moist and humid. The air vent in your hearing aid can get clogged by this additional moisture and it will be less effective. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that create electricity. You can prevent moisture-related battery drainage with these steps:
- Don’t leave the batteries in when you’re storing them for a few days
- A dehumidifier for your hearing aid is recommended
- When you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other moist environments
Batteries Can be Depleted by Advanced Hearing Aid Features
Modern digital hearing aids help people hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But if you’re not paying attention, these advanced features can cause faster battery drain. Don’t quit 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. Your battery can be drained by any of the advanced features, like Bluetooth, multichannel, noise cancellation, and tinnitus relief.
Batteries Can be Impacted by Altitude Changes
Moving from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, particularly if they’re on their last leg. When skiing, flying or climbing always brings some spare batteries.
Are The Batteries Really Low?
Some models will give you a warning when the battery begins to get too low. These warnings are, under normal circumstances, a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is depleted. Furthermore, the charge can at times drop temporarily due to environmental or altitude changes and that can cause a false low battery warning. In order to end the alarm, remove the batteries, and then put them back in. You might be able to get several more hours or possibly even days of battery life.
Handling Batteries Improperly
You should not take out the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Always wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to avoid getting dirt or hand oil on them. Hearing aid batteries should never be frozen. It doesn’t lengthen their life as it might with other kinds of batteries. Hearing aid batteries might lose battery power more quickly if you make these basic handling errors.
It isn’t a Good Idea to Buy a Year’s Supply of Batteries
If you can afford to do it, buying in bulk can be a smart idea. But the last few batteries in the pack probably won’t have full power. Unless you’re fine with wasting a few, try to stick to a six month supply.
Shopping For Hearing Aid Batteries Online
This isn’t an over-all criticism of buying stuff on the web. You can get some great deals. But some batteries that you can find on the internet are being sold by less honest people and are close to their expiration date. They may even be past their expiration date. So buyer beware.
There’s an expiration date on both zinc and alkaline batteries. If you were going to buy milk, you would check the expiration date. You need to do that with batteries also. Be sure that the date is well in the future so that you can get the most use out of the pack. It’s probably a smart idea to message the vendor if there isn’t an expiration date or better yet, come see us for your battery needs. Only buy batteries from reliable sources.
Now You Can Get Rechargeable Hearing Aids
There are several reasons that hearing batteries may drain rapidly. But by taking little precautions you can get more energy out of each battery. You might also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re in the market for a new set. If you charge them while you sleep, you get a full day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only have to be changed every few years.