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Get The Most From Your Hearing Aid Batteries

Jun 29, 2016

Do you know how to get the longest life from your hearing aid batteries? Or when to change the battery to get the best performance from your hearing aid? Learn how to get the most from your hearing aid batteries, and avoid being cut off from sound when you’re on the go.

​Zinc-air batteries are the most common batteries for hearing aids. All zinc-air hearing aid batteries have a factory-sealed sticker on them, and they remain inactive until the sticker is removed.

Let The Battery “Charge” After Activation

When the sticker is peeled off, oxygen in the air interacts with the zinc to activate the battery. The battery should be exposed to the air for a full minute after the sticker is removed, before you put it in the hearing aid to let it fully charge. Once the sticker is removed and the battery is activated, the battery will remain active until it’s drained. It can’t be deactivated by re-attaching the sticker. 

Choosing The Right Battery for Your Hearing Aid

The law requires manufacturers to code their battery size by color – so when you are looking for a new battery, you only have to look for your color, and you’ll get the right size.

The four most common hearing aid battery sizes are:

Size	Color	Avg Lifespan	Typical Uses
10	Yellow	3-7 days	Mini RTE and CIC
312	Brown	3-10 days	Mini BTE, RITE and ITC
13	Orange	6-14 days	BTE and ITE
675	Blue	9-20 days	BTE and ITE

How Long Does a Hearing Aid Battery Last?

Based on the average use of 16 hours a day, most hearing aid batteries last between 5-14 days, but ultimately, the life expectancy for hearing aid batteries depends on several factors, including:

• Your degree of hearing loss
  
• The size of the batteries
  
• How long the hearing aids are worn
  
• Environmental conditions
  
• How old the batteries are
  

If you are experiencing shorter-than-usual battery life, it’s possible that there is a problem with the hearing aid. If this happens, visit your audiologist to make sure that your hearing aids are in good condition.

How To Extend The Life of Your Hearing Aid Battery

• Turn hearing aids off and leave the door to the battery compartment open when you’re not using your hearing aids
  
• Take the batteries out overnight and leave them in a dehumidifying container (like the Dry & Store)
  
• Always store batteries at room temperature, away from heat, cold and humidity. Don’t put them in the refrigerator or the glove compartment
  
• Don't carry batteries loose in your pockets or purse – coming into contact with other metals such as coins or keys can result in short-circuits
  

What Causes Hearing Aid Batteries To Drain Quickly?

• Lots of features on the hearing aid. More features use up more power
  
• Larger hearing aids use more power and drain the battery quicker
  
• Hard work. The harder the hearing aid has to work for you – whether from more severely impaired hearing or loud environments – the shorter the battery life will be
  

When Should You Change Your Hearing Aid Batteries?

• If the sound becomes distorted
  
• If you have to turn up the volume more than usual
  
• Some hearing aids beep when the battery is low. Change the battery immediately when you hear the beeping
  

Always carry an extra set of hearing aid batteries. Battery power can be lost suddenly, and you don’t want to get caught without a spare battery.

Once you’re fitted with the best hearing aids for your hearing condition, your hearing aid batteries are a key component to maintaining good hearing. Use fresh batteries, keep them cool and dry, and visit your audiologist regularly to make sure both the hearing aids and batteries are working at their best.

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