Although it may seem to be a straightforward question to ask how long hearing aid batteries should be expected to last, it’s actually not. How long hearing aid batteries last depends upon many factors. Just how long a battery lasts depends on which company manufactured it, and may even vary across various hearing aid models from the same manufacturer. The actual life span of a hearing aid battery also hinges upon the amount of time the hearing aid is powered on. Unsurprisingly, the more you use your hearing aid, the faster the batteries will be used up.
There are even varying battery lives in the exact same size of battery depending on the manufacturer, and depending on whether you’re buying that manufacturer’s “premium” line or their “normal” line of batteries. Battery type is another main factor in longevity. For example, zinc-air batteries will begin to burn stored energy the instant you remove the tab on the bottom and will continue losing power even if the hearing aid is turned off while other types will only drain when they are inside a hearing aid that is powered on.
If considering new hearing aids, it’s a good idea to do some research on the different models and the types of hearing aid batteries they use to help you determine the best choice for your lifestyle. Similarly, a bit of time invested in research may help you find superior batteries for your existing hearing aids. To make things somewhat easier for you, hearing aid batteries are available in four common sizes, each of which is marked with a distinct color code, which is always the same no matter who the manufacturer is. The hours listed below for each battery size are approximations, but will give you a general idea of how long batteries of each size ought to last given standard use:
- 80 hours – Yellow – Size 10
- 175 hours – Brown – Size 312
- 240 hours – Orange – Size 13
- 300 hours – Blue – Size 675
For the longest battery life, remember to turn your hearing aid off when you are not wearing it. And to ensure batteries you’ve already purchased but haven’t used yet stay fresh and retain their power as long as possible, store them indoors in their original unopened packaging, and at room temperature.