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 surprising.What is the average length of time that your hearing aid batteries should stay charged? Anywhere from 3 to 7 days is standard. That’s a really wide range. So wide, in fact, that it’s unpredictable and leaves you in a significant predicament. You might be on day 4 at the grocery store when unexpectedly, things go quiet and you can’t hear the cashier. Or it’s day 5 and you’re having a call with friends when unexpectedly you find yourself feeling very alone because you can no longer hear the conversation. Now, you’re watching TV. You can no longer hear the news. Hold on, it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before that 3-day mark. It isn’t just annoying. You’re missing out on life because you don’t know how much juice is left in your hearing aids. If your hearing aid batteries are dying too fast, there are a small number of likely culprits.
Moisture Can Deplete a Battery
There aren’t many species that release moisture through their skin but humans do. We do it to cool off. We do it to clear out excess sodium or toxins in the blood. In addition, you may live in a humid or rainy climate where things get even more moist. This additional moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making it less reliable. It can even deplete the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that generate electricity. Here are some measures you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- if your storing them for a few days or more, remove the batteries
- Obtain a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
- Open the battery door before storing the hearing aids
- Don’t keep your hearing aids in the bathroom, kitchen or other damp environments
Batteries Can be Depleted by Advanced Hearing Aid Functions
You get a much better hearing aid now than you did even 10 years ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to run down faster if you’re not paying attention. You can still use 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. Your battery can be depleted by any of the advanced features, like multichannel, Bluetooth, noise cancellation, and tinnitus relief.
Altitude Changes Can Impact Batteries Too
Moving from a low to high altitude can deplete your batteries, especially if they’re on their last leg. Take some spare batteries if you are going on a plane or high up into the mountains.
Are The Batteries Really Low?
Some models will give you an alert when the battery begins to get too low. Generally speaking, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not actually saying the battery is dead. In addition, sometimes an environmental change in humidity or altitude briefly causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm gets triggered. In order to end the alarm, remove the batteries, and then put them back in. 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. Steer clear of getting dirt and skin oil on your hearing aid by cleaning your hands before touching them. Hearing aid batteries should never be frozen. It doesn’t increase their life as it might with other types of batteries. Basic handling errors such as these can cause hearing aid batteries to drain faster.
Purchasing 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 plan. But as you get toward the end of the pack, the last several batteries most likely won’t last as long. Unless you don’t mind wasting a few, try to stay with a six month supply.
Purchasing Hearing Aid Batteries Online
Shopping from the web can be a good thing. You can get some great deals. But some less scrupulous people will sell batteries online that are very near to the expiration date. Or worse, it has already passed. So you need to be careful.
There’s an expiration date on both alkaline and zinc batteries. If you were going to buy milk, you would look at the expiration date. You have to use the same amount of care with batteries. If you want to get the most from your pack, make sure the date is well in the future. It’s probably a smart 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 reliable sources.
Now You Can Get Rechargeable Hearing Aids
There are several reasons that hearing batteries may drain quickly. But you can get more life out of your batteries by taking some precautions. You may 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 need to replace them every few years.