Button battery for hearing aids on the brown wooden table. The object is on the left. The batteries are stacked in a triangle.

Does it seem like your hearing aid batteries drain way too quickly? Here are a few unexpected reasons that may occur.

How long should hearing aid batteries last? The typical hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 days.

That range is pretty wide. But it’s so wide that it’s unpredictable and could leave you in trouble.

You could be on day 4 at the grocery store. Unexpectedly, your sound cuts out. The cashier is speaking to you but you don’t hear what they are saying.

Or it’s day 5. You’re appreciating a night out with friends. All of a sudden, you can’t follow the discussion and it’s leaving you feeling rather alone.

Maybe you go to your grandchild’s school to watch a play. You can no longer hear the children singing. Wait, it’s only day 2. Yes, sometimes they even die before the 3rd day.

It isn’t just inconvenient. You’re losing out on life because you don’t know how much juice you have left in your hearing aids.

Here are 7 likely culprits if your hearing aid batteries die quickly.

Moisture can drain a battery

Producing moisture through our skin is one thing that human beings do that most other species don’t. You do it to cool down. It also helps clear the blood of excess toxins and sodium. In addition, you might live in a humid or rainy climate where things get even wetter.

This excess moisture can clog the air vent in your device, making hearing aids less efficient. It can even interact with the chemicals that generate electricity causing it to drain even faster.

Here are a few steps you can take to avoid moisture-caused battery drain:

  • Take the batteries out if you’re storing them for several days
  • Before you go to bed, open up the battery door
  • A dehumidifier can be helpful
  • Don’t store your hearing aids in the bathroom or kitchen

Sophisticated modern features are power intensive

Current digital hearing aids help individuals hear so much better than ones that came out just 10 years ago. But when these sophisticated features are in use, they can be a drain on battery power.

Don’t quit using your favorite features. But just know that if you stream music for hours from your smartphone to your hearing aids, you’ll need to replace the battery sooner.

All these added functions, like Bluetooth, tinnitus relief, or multichannel, can drain the battery more quickly.

Altitude changes can affect batteries too

Your batteries can be quickly depleted when you have a rapid climb in altitude, and if they’re already low this is especially true. Make sure you bring some spares if you’re in the mountains or on an aircraft.

Is the battery really drained?

Some hearing aids let you know when the battery is low. As a general rule, these warnings are giving you a “heads up”. They’re not telling you the battery is dead. On top of this, sometimes an environmental change in altitude or humidity briefly causes the charge to dip and the low battery alarm gets triggered.

You can turn off the alarm by removing and resetting your hearing aid. There could be hours or even days of power left.

Handling the batteries incorrectly

You shouldn’t pull off the little tab from the battery before you’re ready to use it. Hand oil or dirt can be a problem for batteries so wash up before you handle them. Keep your batteries out of the freezer. It doesn’t increase their life as it might with other types of batteries.

Hearing aids will drain faster if you mishandle them in these ways.

Overstocking on batteries isn’t a good plan

Purchasing in bulk is often a smart money decision when you can afford to do it. But you can expect that the last several batteries in the pack will drain faster. Try to limit yourself to a 6-month supply or less unless you’re okay with the waste.

internet battery vendors

This isn’t a broad criticism of buying stuff on the internet. You can get some great deals. But some less honest people will sell batteries online that are very near to the expiration date. Or even worse, it has already gone by.

Both alkaline (AA, AAA, etc.) and zinc hearing aid batteries have an expiration date. You wouldn’t buy milk without checking the expiration. The same goes with batteries. If you want to get the most from your battery, make sure the date is well into the future.

If the website doesn’t state an expiration date, send the online vendor a message, or purchase batteries at a pharmacy or hearing aid store where you can see it on the box. Only purchase batteries from reliable sources.

Hearing aid batteries drain quickly no more

Hearing aid batteries may drain more quickly for numerous reasons. But by taking little precautions you can get more energy from each battery. And if you’re thinking of an upgrade, think about rechargeable hearing aids. You dock these hearing aids on a charger each night for an entire day of hearing tomorrow. Every few years, you will have to change the rechargeable batteries.

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The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.