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Everything you need to know about Hearing Aid Batteries
Hearing devices have come a long way. With the advances in computer & electronic technology, the devices are a lot smaller & a lot more sophisticated than in years past. They are no less than a mini-computer working towards making your hearing better.
All the hearing devices, like any other electronics, need power to function. Hearing devices work on mini batteries, which come in different sizes & types. Broadly speaking, there are two different types of hearing aid batteries: the disposables & the rechargeable. This article should give you a brief understanding of the different types used.
Zinc air/Disposable batteries
Disposable hearing aid batteries have been around for a long time, & the battery technology has continued to advance over the years. These batteries are primarily zinc air batteries, and as the name suggests the batteries are powered by oxidizing zinc with the oxygen in the air. The life expectancy lasts anywhere form 3-20 days, depending on the size of battery, and the usage & technology of the hearing device. Zinc air batteries are relatively inexpensive and cost about $0.45 - $0.75 per battery cell.
Sizes of batteries & their color codes
There are 4 sizes of disposable batteries which are primary used in hearing devices, which are all color coded.
Size 10 – yellow
Size 13 – orange
Size 312- brown
Size 675- blue
How to extend battery life
- Let the batteries breathe before use. After removing the tab, you should leave the hearing aid battery out for approximately 2-5 minutes to allow it to fully oxidize. However, do not leave a battery sitting around without the tab on, this will cause the battery to drain even though it is not in use.
- Handle with clean hands. Make sure your hands are washed and free of grease or dirt before handling the batteries. The tiny pores on the surface which help with oxidation process can become clogged.
- Avoid extreme moisture and temperatures. Hearing aid batteries need to be stored at room temperature, and it is not recommended to leave them in high temperature places, like the car, or extremely humid places, like the bathroom.
- Do not store the hearing aid batteries with other metals. The hearing aid batteries are not to be carried loosely with coins, keys, etc.
- Open the battery door when not in use. Leaving the battery door shut will cause battery drainage since the hearing device is still turned on. If you plan on not using your hearing devices for a prolonged period of time, the battery should be removed & discarded to avoid corrosion.
- Check the expiration date when purchasing. Sometimes hearing aid batteries are left on the shelf for long periods of times, make sure that you are buying batteries with an expiration date outwards of 12-18 months.
Rechargeable hearing aid batteries
Rechargeable batteries are the most convenient way to power your hearing aids. It is not to say that this will save you any money by going rechargeable instead of disposable, but there’s value in being able to drop the device in a charger nightly and not having to worry about the device dying. The rechargeable batteries may not be available in all battery sizes nor in all technologies of hearing devices, they are primary available in Receiver in the Canal (RIC) and Behind the Ear (BTE) models.
The most common types of rechargeable hearing batteries come in a nickel-metal hydride, silver zinc, and lithium ion.
Nickel-metal hydride & silver zinc rechargeable hearing aid batteries
Both of these types of hearing aid batteries last anywhere from 12-16 hours when fully charged. However, with the newest types of technology combined with phone & television streaming the duration of the batteries may vary significantly depending on the usage. The primary advantage of the devices using rechargeable hearing aid batteries is that they are interchangeable with the disposable hearing aid batteries. The rechargeable hearing aid batteries cost about $30-$60 per battery cell and would need to be replaced every 12 months or so.
Lithium ion rechargeable hearing aid batteries
Lithium ion batteries are the newest generation of rechargeable hearing aid batteries, which can last anywhere between 25-30 hours on a single charge and will last about 18-22 hours even with streaming from your phone or television directly into the hearing aids. However, the one disadvantage is that they are not interchangeable with the disposable hearing aid batteries and they would require a trip back to the device manufacturer for the rechargeable battery to be replaced. The battery needs to be replaced approximately once every 4 years, and can cost upwards of $200.
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