Do you feel as if your hearing aid batteries are not keeping a charge as long as they should? The reasons for this can be sometimes unexpected. How long should hearing aid batteries keep a charge? Anywhere from 3 to 7 days is standard. That range is fairly wide. In 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 go 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 enjoying a conversation with friends when you suddenly feel really alone because you can’t participate because you can’t hear. 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 watching. 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 dying too rapidly, there are a small number of likely causes.
A Battery Can be Depleted by Moisture
There aren’t many species that release moisture through their skin but humans do. We do it to cool off. It’s the body’s way of ridding the blood of sodium and toxins. You may also live in a climate that is humid and moist. The air vent in your hearing aid can become clogged by this additional moisture and it will be less reliable. It can even deplete the battery directly by interacting with the chemicals that create electricity. Here are a few measures you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:
- Don’t leave the batteries in if you’re storing them for a number of days
- Moist environments, like the kitchen or bathroom aren’t a good place to keep your hearing aids
- A dehumidifier for your hearing aid is helpful
- Open the battery door when you store the hearing aids
Advanced Hearing Aid Functions Can Drain 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. You can still use your favorite features. But remember, you will need to change the battery sooner if you are streaming music from your phone all day. Noise-canceling, Bluetooth, multichannel, tinnitus relief — all of these added features can drain your battery.
Batteries Can be Impacted by Altitude Changes
Going from a low to high altitude can sap your batteries, especially if they’re on their older. When skiing, flying or climbing always takes some spare batteries.
It’s Possible That The Batteries Aren’t 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 depleted battery. Additionally, the charge can sometimes drop briefly due to environmental or altitude changes and that can cause a false low battery warning. Take the hearing aids out and reset them to stop the alarm. The battery may last a few more hours or even days.
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 hand oil or dirt on them. Hearing aid batteries should never be frozen. 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.
It’s Not a Good Idea to Buy a Year’s Supply of Batteries
Buying in bulk is often a smart money decision when you can afford to do it. But as you come to the end of the pack, the last few batteries most likely won’t last as long. Unless you’re fine with wasting a few, try to stick to a six month supply.
Shopping For Hearing Aid Batteries on The Internet
This isn’t a broad critique of purchasing stuff on the web. You can get some good deals. But some less scrupulous people sell batteries online that are very close to the expiration date. They might even be past their expiration date. So buyer beware.
Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. You wouldn’t buy milk without looking at the expiration date. You need to do that with batteries also. If you’re going to get the most out of your pack, be sure the date is well in the future. If the website doesn’t state an expiration date, message the vendor, or buy batteries directly from us. Make sure you know and trust the seller.
Modern Hearing Aids Are Rechargeable
Hearing aids may drain too quickly for a number of reasons. But by taking little precautions you can get more life out of each battery. 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 charge the next day. And you only need to change them every few years.