Make Your Hearing Aid Batteries Last With These 6 Tips

There is one component that is the key to making hearing aids economical and that is the batteries. It’s one of the biggest financial worries consumers have to deal with when shopping for hearing aids because the costs of replacing them can add up fast.

Even more worrying, what if the batteries quit at absolutely the worst moment? Even for rechargeable brands, this is a big issue.

so that you can avoid the need to replace the batteries several times a week, you can do several things to increase their life. Make the batteries last just a little bit longer by considering these 6 simple ideas.

1. Be a Smart Hearing Aid Consumer

When you first start to shop for your hearing aids is when it all begins. Brand quality and hearing aid features are a couple of the factors which determine battery life. Not all batteries are created equally, either. Some cheaper hearing products have low quality parts that work with cheaper cell batteries. Make sure you talk this over this with your hearing care specialist because you will be changing out the batteries a lot.

Compare the different models as you shop and, also, think about what features are essential for you. Wireless models have batteries that die twice as fast as models with wires. And the bigger hearing aids have longer lasting batteries. These larger devices can possibly go for a couple of weeks without requiring new batteries as opposed to the smaller ones which will require battery replacement every couple of days. Get the features you require but understand how each one affects the power usage of the hearing aids.

2. The Hearing Aids Need to be Stored Properly

To avoid drainage of power you will normally need to open the battery door at night. Also, you will want to:

Keep your batteries in a cool, dry place. Humidity and heat will affect battery cells. Room temperature is fine just keep them out of the sun and away from heat sources include light bulbs.

Think about using a hearing aid dehumidifier, too. Both the batteries and the hearing aid itself are protected by doing this. Humidity in the air is hard on their fragile components.

3. Be Careful When You Change The Batteries

Make sure your hands are dry and clean. The quality of the battery is adversely impacted by moisture, dirt, and grease. Until it’s time to use the batteries, be sure to keep the plastic tabs in place. In order to power on, modern hearing aid batteries mix zinc with air. You don’t want that to happen before you are ready.

It is worth letting them sit out for five minutes after you pull the tab but before you install them. Doing this can extend the life of the battery by days.

4. Play Around With Different Batteries and Battery Sources

It goes without saying, bargain batteries will wear out faster than high quality ones. Think about not just the brands, though, but what types of hearing aid batteries you’re using and also where you buy them. If you buy in quantity, you can get good batteries for less at some big box stores.

If you buy them online, especially from auction sites such as eBay, use caution. Batteries have sell-by and expiration dates. Once they expire, they shouldn’t be used.

Consult your hearing specialist for advice on where to get batteries at affordable prices.

5. Be Ready For The Inevitable

Eventually, the batteries are going to quit. It’s better if you get an idea when that will occur, so you don’t end up in a pinch. Keep a schedule of when you replace the batteries and when they fizzle. Over time, you’ll get an idea for when you need replacements.

A diary will also help you figure out which brands are best for your hearing devices and what features most affect the battery life.

6. What Are the Alternatives to Batteries

One of the best things about newer hearing aids is that some are rechargeable. If you can save money on batteries, it will be worth paying a little more initially. If you need a lot of features like wireless or Bluetooth, then rechargeable batteries are probably the better choice.

Hearing aids are a considerable investment but so are the batteries that you need to make them work. A small amount of due diligence goes a long way to lengthening the life of those batteries and saving you cash. To find out what your best option for you is, schedule an appointment with a hearing aid specialist.