How Cold Weather Affects Hearing Aid Battery Life

Tailgating outside the Fargodome is part of fall for a lot of Bison fans, even on mornings when you can see your breath. You set up the grill early, pull on a hoodie under your jacket and stand around the lot for a few hours before kickoff.

Somewhere along the way, you notice your phone battery has dropped a lot faster than it does indoors. If you wear hearing aids, they may be running low too, right when the crowd gets louder and conversations pick up. Cold weather drains battery power faster, including the batteries inside your hearing aids.

Most hearing aids run on either disposable zinc-air batteries or rechargeable ones, and both can struggle when the temperature drops. A battery that lasts all day at home might start giving out by early afternoon after a few hours outside.

Going from cold air into a warm building can also leave moisture behind, which causes its own problems. Many people assume the battery is bad or the hearing aid is broken. More often, the cold is doing exactly what it does to your phone.

What the Cold Does to the Power in Your Hearing Aids

Cold makes it harder for any battery to do its job. As it gets colder, the battery has trouble giving your hearing aids the steady power they need.

And the longer you’re out, the more you’ll notice it. Your hearing aids might work fine in the house and then start acting up after you’ve been outside for a while. Once they warm back up, they usually start working normally again.

Around Fargo, that cold sets in fast this time of year, and your hearing aids are sitting right out in it on your ears. Even running out to the mailbox or scraping the windshield can chill them down quicker than you’d think. Putting in fresh batteries or charging them all the way the night before gives you a little extra cushion.

How Your Type of Battery Reacts to the Cold

The two kinds of hearing aid batteries don’t react to cold weather in quite the same way. Disposable zinc-air batteries start working once you peel off the little sticker and let air reach them. Cold, dry air can slow down the chemical reaction that makes them run.

Rechargeable hearing aids usually have a lithium-ion battery sealed inside, a lot like your phone. When you’re out in the cold, they may not put out as much power, but they usually bounce back once they warm up.

One type isn’t always better than the other when it’s cold out. It just helps to know which kind you have so you’re not surprised when the battery runs low early.

Why Fargo Wind Makes Cold Exposure Happen Faster

Low temperatures are only part of the challenge during a Fargo winter. Strong winds across the Red River Valley pull heat away from exposed hearing aids faster, so the devices cool down sooner than they would on a calm day.

Wind chill itself applies to people and animals, not electronics. The hearing aid will not become colder than the actual air temperature. It can, however, reach that temperature faster when moving air is constantly pulling warmth away.

That faster cooling matters when you are outside for a while. A device that felt warm when you left the house may start showing battery changes sooner on a windy day. The effect becomes more noticeable during longer walks, outdoor events or time spent standing outside.

A hat, headband or pair of earmuffs gives the hearing aids some protection from direct wind. Just make sure the fabric does not press tightly against the microphones. Too much contact can create rubbing noise or feedback.

Tips for Handling Small Batteries in the Cold

Tiny hearing aid batteries are hard enough to handle indoors. Add cold fingers and wind, and changing one outside gets frustrating fast. Numb hands make it harder to grip a size 10 or 312 battery without dropping it.

A few small tricks make the job easier:

• Warm your hands before opening the battery door
• Step indoors or out of the wind when possible
• Use a magnetic battery tool if your hearing aids came with one
• Work over your lap, a bag or another surface that will catch a dropped battery

Winter Accessories That Help Protect Your Hearing Aids

Winter activities add more than cold to the mix. Hats, snow, sweat and quick movement all affect how securely hearing aids sit behind your ears.

A retention cord or clip helps if you are doing something active and worry about a device slipping loose. A soft headband also adds some protection from wind and snow, as long as it does not press tightly against the microphones.

When you are done outside, give the hearing aids a quick look before putting them away. If they feel damp, follow the drying routine recommended for your model. A protective case also gives you somewhere dry to put the devices if you need to remove them while you are away from home.

What a Weak Battery Sounds Like

A weakening battery does not always cause the hearing aid to shut off immediately. Sometimes the first sign is sound that cuts in and out or seems weaker than usual. You might also hear a low-battery warning earlier in the day than expected.

Other people notice one hearing aid losing power before the other. If that happens repeatedly in cold weather but improves once the devices warm up, temperature could be part of the problem. A worn battery or charging issue could also be involved.

For disposable batteries, keep your spares somewhere warm instead of leaving them in a cold vehicle or outside coat pocket. For rechargeable devices, start the day with a full charge before heading out into freezing weather.

If the same problem keeps happening even indoors, the battery may not be the whole story. Your hearing professional can check the device and rule out other causes.

Why Your Hearing Aids Need a Minute When You Come Inside

You know how your glasses fog up when you walk in from the cold? The same thing can happen to your hearing aids as they warm up.

You might not see it, either. The outside can look totally dry while little drops of water are forming in the tiny openings or around the battery contacts.

When you get back inside:

• Give them a few minutes to warm up on their own
• Don’t set them near a heater or vent, and skip the hair dryer
• Dab off any water you can see
• Dry them the way the instructions for your model say to

What Not to Do With Cold Hearing Aids

If a hearing aid stops working after being outside in freezing weather, do not try to heat it quickly. Hair dryers, heating vents, space heaters and other direct heat sources are too hot for delicate hearing aid parts.

Bring the devices indoors and let them warm gradually at room temperature. If you see moisture on the outside, wipe it away and give the hearing aids time to dry before checking the battery or charge level again.

Avoid placing rechargeable hearing aids on a charger while they are still extremely cold unless the manufacturer specifically says it is safe. Letting them return to room temperature first is the safer approach.

Storing Spare Batteries During the Winter

Spare batteries are better off indoors than in a cold car or garage. Long stretches in very low temperatures are not ideal for battery storage, especially when the package keeps moving between cold and warm environments.

Leave your extra batteries in the package until you need them, and keep them somewhere dry that stays around room temperature. A cabinet in the house is a lot better than your car’s glove box. Steer clear of anywhere hot or steamy, like near the stove or in the bathroom.

For zinc-air batteries, leave the tab in place until you are ready to use one. Once the tab comes off, the battery activates and begins using its available life whether it is in the hearing aid or not.

Keeping Your Hearing Aids Going Through Chilly Bison Saturdays

A few small habits can help your hearing aids last through a cold morning outside. Keep spare disposable batteries in an inside pocket where your body heat keeps them warmer.

If yours are rechargeable, start the day with a full charge and leave the charger somewhere warm and dry. When you come back inside, wipe off any moisture and let the hearing aids dry out overnight.

At Hearing Solutions Inc. in Fargo, North Dakota, we can test your batteries, charger and hearing aids.

If something besides the cold is draining power, we’ll help you track it down. We want your hearing aids to keep up with you from the first burger off the grill to the final whistle. Call us at (701) 929-6692 to schedule a visit.