Do your hearing aid batteries seem to drain faster than they ought to? Here are some unexpected reasons that might happen.
So how far should the charge on my hearing aid battery go? The standard hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days.
That range is rather wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a serious situation.
You might be on day 4 at the supermarket store. Suddenly, things get quiet. You don’t hear the cashier.
Or it’s day 5. You’re enjoying a night out with friends. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer follow what your friends are saying.
Perhaps you go to your grandchild’s school to see a play. And the kid’s singing goes quiet. But it’s only day 2. Yes, they even occasionally die after a couple of days.
It’s not only inconvenient. You have no clue how much power is left and it’s causing you to miss out on life.
Here are 7 possible causes if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.
Moisture can kill a battery
Did you know that humans are one of the few species that discharge moisture through their skin? It’s a cooling system. It also cleans the blood of unwanted toxins and sodium. In addition, you might live in a rainy humid climate where things get even wetter.
The air vent in your device can become clogged by this extra moisture which can cause less efficient functionality. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that make electricity.
Avoid battery drain caused by moisture using these steps:
- If you’re storing your hearing aids for an extended time period, take out the batteries
- Open the battery door before storing the hearing aids
- Don’t store your hearing aids in the kitchen or bathroom
- Use a dehumidifier
State-of-the-art hearing aid features can run down batteries
Current digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But these extra functions can cause batteries to drain more quickly if you’re not paying attention.
Don’t stop using your favorite features. But be aware that the battery will drain faster if you spend all day streaming music from your cellphone to your hearing aids.
Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added features can drain your battery.
Batteries can be affected by altitude changes
Your batteries can be quickly depleted when you have a rapid climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is particularly true. Be certain that you bring some spares if you are in the mountains or on an aircraft.
Maybe the batteries aren’t actually drained
Many hearing aids will warn you when the batteries need to be replaced. These warnings, generally speaking, aren’t telling you that your batteries are dead, they’re just a heads up. In addition, you might get a warning when the charge drops due to an altitude or humidity change.
Take the hearing aids out and reset them to quiet the alarm. You might be able to get several more hours or even days out of that battery.
Handling the batteries improperly
Wait until you’re ready to use the battery before you pull off the protective tab. 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 out of the freezer. This might increase the life of other batteries but it doesn’t work with hearing aid batteries.
Basic handling mistakes like these can make hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan
It’s usually a wise financial choice to purchase in bulk. But you can anticipate that the last several batteries in the pack will drain faster. It can be a waste to buy any more than 6 months worth.
Buying hearing aid batteries from the internet
This isn’t a broad critique of buying stuff online. You can get some great deals. But some less scrupulous individuals will sell batteries on the internet that are very near to the expiration date. Or worse, it has already gone by.
Most kinds of batteries, including hearing aid batteries, have expiration dates. When you purchase milk, you wouldn’t forget to check the expiration date. You shouldn’t forget to check the date on batteries either. Be certain that the date is far enough in the future to get the most use out of the pack.
If you buy your batteries at a hearing aid store or pharmacy, the expiration date will be on the labeling, but if you are going to shop online make sure the vendor states when the batteries will expire. Make sure you look for reviews to be certain you’re buying from a reputable source.
Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more
Hearing aid batteries might drain faster for several reasons. But you can get more energy from each battery by taking little precautions. And if you’re considering an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You dock these hearing aids on a charger every night for a full day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only need to be replaced every few years.