Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries lose their charge too quickly? The reasons for this are sometimes surprising. What is the average length of time that your hearing aid batteries should keep a charge? The typical hearing aid battery lasts between 3 and 7 days. That range is fairly wide. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and puts you in a challenging 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 maybe on day 5, you’re having an enjoyable conversation with friends when you suddenly feel very alone because you can’t hear what anyone is saying. Occasionally the batteries don’t even make 3 days. Like when you’re watching TV on day 2 and all of a sudden you can’t hear the show your that’s on. It isn’t just annoying. You’re missing out on life because you don’t know how much juice you have left in your hearing aids. Here are the most likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
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. It’s the body’s way of purging the blood of sodium and toxins. You may also live in a climate that is moist and humid. The air vent in your hearing aid can become clogged by this extra moisture and it will be less effective. Moisture can also interact with the chemicals of the battery causing it to drain faster. Here are some steps you can take to prevent moisture-caused battery drain:
- Before you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a number of days
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other damp environments
- A dehumidifier for your hearing aid is recommended
Batteries Can be Drained by Advanced Hearing Aid Features
You get a much better hearing aid today than you did even ten years ago. But if you’re not paying attention, these advanced functions can cause faster battery drain. You can still use your favorite features. But keep in mind, you will need to replace the battery sooner if you are streaming music from your phone all day. Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief, noise canceling — all of these added functions can drain your battery.
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. When skiing, flying or climbing always takes some spare batteries.
Maybe The Batteries Aren’t Really Low
Some models will give you an alert when the battery begins to get too low. Generally, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. It doesn’t mean you have a depleted battery. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude briefly causes the charge to dip and the low battery alert gets triggered. Take the hearing aids out and reset them to end the alarm. You may be able to get several more hours or even days of battery life.
Handling Batteries Improperly
Wait until you’re ready to use your hearing aid to remove the tab from the battery. Make sure you wash your hands before handling your hearing aids or batteries to protect against getting dirt or hand oil on them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t lengthen their life as it might with other types of batteries. Hearing aid batteries might lose battery power more quickly if you make these simple handling errors.
Buying a Year’s Supply of Batteries Isn’t a Good Plan
Buying in bulk is typically a smart money move when 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 the waste.
Purchasing Hearing Aid Batteries on The Web
Buying online can be a good thing. You can get some good deals. But some less honest people sell batteries on the internet that are very near to the expiration date. Or even worse, they are already passed. So you need to be careful.
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 have to use the same amount of caution with batteries. Be certain 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 you don’t see an expiration date or even better, come see us for your battery needs. Be sure you know and trust the seller.
Today You Can Get Rechargeable Hearing Aids
There are a number of reasons that hearing batteries may drain quickly. But by taking some precautions you can get more energy from each battery. You might also think about 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 power the next day. And you only have to replace them every few years.