Do you feel like your hearing aid batteries won’t keep a charge as long as they should? The reasons for this are sometimes surprising. How long should hearing aid batteries keep a charge? The typical hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days. 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 all of a sudden, things get quiet and you’re unable to hear the cashier. Or it’s day 5 and you’re enjoying a call with friends when all of a sudden you find yourself feeling really alone because you can no longer follow 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 just can’t tell how much battery power your hearing aids have left and it’s causing you to miss out on life. If your hearing aid batteries are dying too quickly, there are a small number of likely causes.
Moisture Can Drain a Battery
There aren’t very many species that produce moisture through their skin but humans do. It’s a cooling method. We do it to clear out excess sodium or toxins in the blood. You may also live in a climate that’s humid and moist. The air vent in your hearing aid can become clogged by this added moisture and it will be less efficient. It can even deplete the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals which generate electricity. You can avoid moisture-related battery drainage with these measures:
- Get a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
- 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 moist environments
- Open the battery door when you store the hearing aids
Batteries Can be Depleted by Advanced Hearing Aid Functions
You get a much better hearing aid today than you did even a decade ago. But if you’re not keeping your eye on them, these advanced features can cause faster battery drain. Don’t avoid using your favorite features. But keep in mind, you will have to switch out the battery sooner if you are streaming music from your phone all day. Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these extra features can drain your battery.
Altitude Changes Can Affect Batteries Too
Your batteries can be drained if you go from low to high altitudes especially if they are already low on juice. When flying, skiing or climbing always brings some spare batteries.
Are The Batteries Really Low?
Some hearing aids tell you when the battery is low. These alerts are, ordinarily, a “heads up”. It doesn’t mean you have a dead battery. Additionally, the charge can sometimes drop temporarily 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
You should never take out the little tab from the battery until you’re ready to use it. Refrain from getting skin oil and dirt on your hearing aid by washing your hands before touching them. Never freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t extend their life as it might with other kinds of batteries. Hearing aid batteries may lose battery power faster if you make these simple handling mistakes.
Buying a Year’s Supply of Batteries Isn’t a Very Good Plan
If you can afford to do it, buying in bulk can be a smart idea. But as you come to the end of the pack, the last few batteries probably won’t last as long. Unless you’re fine with wasting a few, try to stick to a six month supply.
Purchasing Hearing Aid Batteries on The Internet
Buying from the web can be a good thing. There are some pretty great deals out in cyberspace. But some less scrupulous people will sell batteries on the internet that are very near to the expiration date. They might even be beyond their expiration date. So buyer beware.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. If you were going to buy milk, you would check the expiration date. You need to do that with batteries also. Be certain that the date is well in the future to 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 better yet, come see us for your battery needs. Only buy batteries from reliable sources.
Modern Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
There are several reasons that hearing batteries could drain rapidly. But by taking little precautions you can get more energy out of each battery. You may also think about rechargeable hearing aids if you’re going to buy a new set. 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.
