Do you feel as if your hearing aid batteries are not keeping a charge as long as they should? The reasons for this are sometimes unexpected.What is the average period of time that your hearing aid batteries should keep a charge? The ordinary hearing aid battery lasts between 3 and 7 days. That’s a really 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 when out of the blue, things go quiet and you can’t hear the cashier. Or it’s day 5 and you’re having a call with friends when suddenly you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer hear the conversation. Sometimes the batteries don’t even make that 3 day mark. Like when you’re watching TV on day 2 and suddenly you can’t hear the show your watching. It isn’t just annoying. You just 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 dying too fast, there are several likely causes.
Moisture Can Deplete a Battery
Did you realize that humans are one of the few species that release moisture through their skin? We do it to cool off. It’s the body’s way of purging the blood of toxins and sodium. You may also live in a climate that’s moist and humid. This extra moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making it less efficient. It can even deplete the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals which generate electricity. You can prevent moisture-related battery drainage with these measures:
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a few days
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other damp conditions
- Open the battery door when you store the hearing aids
- Get a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
Batteries Can be Depleted by Advanced Hearing Aid Functions
Advanced 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 all day from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to replace the battery sooner. Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief, noise canceling — all of these added functions can drain your battery.
Batteries Can be Impacted by Altitude Changes
Your batteries can be drained if you go from low to high altitudes particularly if they are already low on juice. When skiing, flying or climbing always takes some extra batteries.
Maybe The Batteries Aren’t Really Low
Some models will give you an alert when the battery starts to get too low. These alerts are, ordinarily, 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 dip and the low battery alert gets triggered. Take the hearing aids out and reset them to end the alarm. The battery might last several more hours or even days.
Handling Batteries Improperly
Wait until you’re about to use your hearing aid to pull the tab from the battery. Always wash your hands before touching your hearing aids or batteries to protect against getting dirt or hand oil on them. Hearing aid batteries should never be frozen. It doesn’t extend their life as it could with other types of batteries. Hearing aid batteries might lose battery power quicker if you make these basic handling mistakes.
It’s Not a Good Plan to Purchase a Year’s Supply of Batteries
Buying in bulk is typically a smart money decision when you can afford to do it. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last few batteries probably won’t be at full power. Try to stick with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.
Purchasing Hearing Aid Batteries on The Web
It’s not an over-all critique of purchasing stuff on the web. You can get some good deals. But some less scrupulous people sell batteries online that are very near to the expiration date. Or worse, they are already passed. So you need to be careful.
There’s an expiration date on both alkaline and zinc batteries. You wouldn’t buy milk without looking at the expiration. You need to use the same amount of caution with batteries. Be sure that the date is not close to the expiration 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 trusted sources.
Modern Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
Hearing aids may drain too rapidly for several reasons. But you can get more life 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 put them on a charger every night for a full day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only have to be replaced every few years.