Do you feel as if your hearing aid batteries won’t keep a charge as long as they should? Here are some unexpected reasons that might happen.How long should hearing aid batteries keep a charge? The standard hearing aid battery lasts between 3 and 7 days. That range is fairly wide. As a matter of fact, it’s so wide that it probably doesn’t help you predict what should be taking place with your hearing aid. Things might suddenly get quiet when you’re trying to hear the cashier at the supermarket after 4 days of battery power. Or perhaps on day 5, you’re having an enjoyable conversation with friends when you unexpectedly feel really alone because you can’t participate because you can’t hear. Sometimes 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 watching. It’s not just annoying. You just can’t tell how much battery power you have left in your hearing aids and it’s making you miss out on life. Here are the likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries drain quickly.
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 ridding the blood of toxins and sodium. In addition, you may live in a rainy or humid climate where things get even wetter. This additional 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 create electricity. Here are a few measures you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- Don’t leave the batteries in when you’re storing them for a number of days
- Obtain a dehumidifier for your hearing aids
- Moist environments, like the kitchen or bathroom aren’t a good place to keep your hearing aids
- When you store your hearing aids, open the battery door
Batteries Can be Depleted by Advanced Hearing Aid Features
You get a much better hearing aid nowadays than you did even 10 years ago. But these extra features can cause batteries to run down faster if you’re not keeping an eye on them. You can still use your favorite features. But keep in mind, you will need to switch out the battery sooner if you are streaming music from your phone for hours. Your battery can be drained by any of the advanced features, like multichannel, Bluetooth, noise cancellation, and tinnitus relief.
Altitude Changes Can Affect Batteries Too
Your batteries can be sapped out if you go from low to high altitudes especially if they are already low on juice. Bring some extra batteries if you are going on a plane or high up into the mountains.
Perhaps The Batteries Aren’t Really Low
Some models will give you a warning when the battery begins to get too low. Generally speaking, these alerts are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not actually saying the battery is dead. In addition, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity briefly causes the charge to dip and the low battery alert gets triggered. In order to stop the alarm, take the batteries out, and then put them back in. The battery might last a few more hours or even days.
Improper Handling of Batteries
Wait until you’re ready to use your hearing aid to remove the tab from the battery. Refrain from getting dirt and skin oil on your hearing aid by washing your hands before handling them. Don’t ever freeze hearing aid batteries. It doesn’t extend their life as it could with other kinds of batteries. Hearing aid batteries may lose battery power faster if you make these simple handling mistakes.
It isn’t a Good Idea to Purchase a Year’s Supply of Batteries
Buying in bulk is typically a smart money decision if you can afford to do it. But the last few batteries in the pack most likely won’t have full power. Try to stay with a 6-month supply or less unless you’re fine with wasting a few.
Purchasing Hearing Aid Batteries on The Web
Shopping online can be a good thing. There are some really great deals out in cyberspace. But some less honest people will sell batteries online that are very close to the expiration date. Or worse, they are already passed. So you need to be cautious.
There’s an expiration date on both alkaline and zinc batteries. You shouldn’t buy milk without looking at the expiration. You should use the same amount of caution with batteries. If you want to get the most from your pack, be sure the date is well in the future. If the website doesn’t mention an expiration date, message the vendor, or buy batteries directly from us. Only purchase batteries from reputable sources.
Modern Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
Hearing aids may drain too rapidly for a number of reasons. But you can get more life from your batteries by taking some precautions. You might also consider rechargeable hearing aids if you’re in the market for a new set. You dock them on a charger every night for a full day of hearing the next day. The rechargeable batteries only have to be changed every few years.