Do you feel as if your hearing aid batteries won’t keep 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 stay charged? Between 3 to 7 days is standard. That range is fairly wide. So wide, actually, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a challenging predicament. You could be on day 4 at the grocery store when unexpectedly, things get quiet and you can’t hear the cashier. Or maybe on day 5, you’re having an enjoyable conversation with friends when you unexpectedly feel really alone because you can’t hear what anyone is saying. Now, you’re watching TV. All of a sudden you can’t hear the news. Hold on, it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even drain before that 3-day mark. 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. If your hearing aid batteries are draining too fast, there are several likely causes.
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 method. 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. This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making it less effective. It can even drain the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals which produce electricity. You can avoid moisture-related battery drainage with these steps:
- if your storing them for a number of days or more, take the batteries out
- Before you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
- Moist conditions, like the kitchen or bathroom are not a good place to keep your hearing aids
- Get a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
Advanced Hearing Aid Functions Can Run Down Batteries
You get a much better hearing aid nowadays than you did even ten years ago. But if you’re not keeping your eye on them, these advanced features can cause faster battery drain. Don’t stop using your favorite features. But bear in mind, you will need to change the battery sooner if you are streaming music from your phone all day. Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief, noise canceling — all of these added features can drain your battery.
Altitude Changes Can Impact Batteries Too
Moving from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, especially if they’re on their last leg. When skiing, flying or climbing always takes some extra batteries.
Are The Batteries Really Low?
Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is running low. These alerts are, under normal circumstances, a “heads up”. They’re not actually saying the battery is dead. Also, the charge can at times dip briefly due to environmental or altitude changes and that can activate a false low battery warning. Remove the hearing aids and reset them to end the alarm. The battery might last a few 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 handling your hearing aids or batteries to avoid getting dirt or hand oil on them. Hearing aid batteries should not be frozen. It doesn’t lengthen their life as it could with other types of batteries. Hearing aid batteries may lose battery power quicker if you make these basic handling mistakes.
Getting a Year’s Supply of Batteries Isn’t a Good Plan
If you can afford to do it, purchasing in bulk can be a smart idea. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last few batteries most likely won’t last as long. Try to stay with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with the waste.
Purchasing Hearing Aid Batteries Online
Shopping online can be a good thing. You can get some good deals. But some batteries that can be found on the internet are being sold by less honest people and are near their expiration date. Or worse, it has already passed. So buyer beware.
There’s an expiration date on both zinc and alkaline batteries. If you were going to buy milk, you would look at the expiration date. You need to use the same amount of caution with batteries. Make 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 good idea to message the vendor if there isn’t an expiration date or even better, come see us for your battery needs. Only purchase batteries from reputable sources.
Modern Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
There are several reasons that hearing batteries may drain rapidly. But by taking little precautions you can get more life from each battery. If you’re in the market for a new set of hearing aids, you might decide on a rechargeable model. If you charge them while you sleep, you get a full day of hearing the next day. And you only need to change them every few years.