Services

Hearing Aid Batteries

Longmont, Colorado

It’s good to know the basics of hearing aid batteries so you can understand why they drain faster in a specific setting, and then use that knowledge to your advantage at times when you need your device to last a little bit longer.

Throughout the years, the technology for hearing aids has been constantly evolving, and hearing aid batteries are part of the innovation.

From traditional (disposable) to rechargeable hearing aid batteries, below are some tips to ensure that you are getting the best performance (and maximum battery life) from your hearing aids.

Before anything else, one thing you need to know about hearing aid batteries is that they do not “drain” equally. This means that the lifespan of hearing aid batteries greatly depends on how they are used (streaming, phone calls, masking noise for tinnitus, etc) and how often they are used.

How long do hearing aid batteries last?

Typically, disposable hearing aid batteries are made to last between 3-10 days, depending on the features and advanced functions of the device. Rechargeable hearing aids are intended to provide a full day’s use before needing to be charged – 18-22 hours depending on use.

Proper maintenance methods can also impact the lifespan of hearing aid batteries. It’s good to know the basics of hearing aid batteries so you can understand why they drain faster on a specific setting, and then use that knowledge to your advantage at times when you need your device to last a little bit longer.

Rechargeable Hearing Aid Batteries

Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are similar to the ones used in smartphones and medical devices. They are built into the hearing aid, so there’s no need to worry about fiddling with tiny pieces. Since the battery is fully encased within the device, it would need to be sent to the manufacturer for repair in the event of unusual battery drain. The expected lifespan of the lithum-ion battery is about 4-5 years. Most patients currently opt for rechargeable hearing aids due to their convenience and their cost-effectiveness in the long term.

Disposable Battery Sizes

There are many types of hearing aid batteries and as a hearing aid user, you need to know what type of hearing aid batteries are powering your device. Keep in mind that hearing aid batteries are not interchangeable. To make it easier for consumers to take note of their hearing aid batteries, manufacturers have produced color-coded batteries. All you need to do is confirm with your hearing aid provider the color and size of the hearing aid batteries for your device.

Below are the most common types of hearing aid batteries:

YELLOW SIZE 10

BROWN SIZE 312

ORANGE SIZE 13

BLUE SIZE 675

Factors Affecting The Life of Hearing Aid Batteries

LEVEL OF HEARING LOSS

HOURS OF USAGE PER DAY

FUNCTIONS OR FEATURES USED (i.e white noise, streaming, Bluetooth, calls)

Hearing Aid Battery Best Practices

DON'T BUY HEARING AID BATTERIES IN BULK

While buying in bulk may seem like a good way to save some extra money, it’s not really a good idea to hoard hearing aid batteries (even if they are on sale). Hearing aid batteries -just like any other batteries- gradually lose their charge even if they are unopened.

NEWEST SHELF LIFE

When shopping for hearing aid batteries, purchase the newest or freshest pack available. When purchasing hearing aid batteries online, always check the expiration date. A lot of consumers make the mistake of not checking the expiration date and end up getting old stock batteries.

FIRST IN, FIRST OUT CONCEPT

Aside from food and perishables, the FIFO concept can also be applied to hearing aid batteries. Make sure to label your hearing aid battery packs according to their expiration date so you can know which one to use first. Even zinc air hearing aid batteries gradually lose power over time.

USE IMMEDIATELY UPON
OPENING

Most hearing aid batteries are now powered with zinc. While zinc is designed to be dormant until activated, once the tab is removed, the time starts ticking for the battery’s lifespan. In short, once you remove the tab, you have to use the battery right away because even if you put it back in its container, the battery will still continue to drain itself.

FREEZING HEARING AID BATTERIES
DOESN’T HELP

This is considered to be a popular hack to prolong battery life, but is it really effective? Experts say that it doesn’t work, and in fact, may even have the opposite effect on zinc batteries. Also, if you really want to preserve or prolong the life of zinc hearing aid batteries, keep them away from direct sunlight.