Although it seems to be a straightforward question to ask just how long hearing aid batteries are good for, it’s actually not. Precisely how long hearing aid batteries last depends on a large number of factors. One consideration is the manufacturer of the hearing aid. Battery life differs by manufacturer and also by model from the same company. The actual life of a hearing aid battery also hinges upon the length of time the hearing aid is powered on. Not surprisingly, the more you use your hearing aid, the more rapidly the batteries will deplete.
Additionally, there are differences in battery life between battery manufacturers, and the exact same manufacturer may offer different lines of batteries, some that last for a longer period of time than others. Some batteries will not begin to deplete their stored energy until they’re inserted into a hearing aid that is switched on, and some (such as zinc-air batteries) will begin to lose power the instant you pull off the adhesive covering on the bottom of the battery, and will continue to decline in power even if the hearing aid is not on.
If consider new hearing aids, it’s a wise 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. In the same way, a little time invested in research may help you locate superior batteries for your existing hearing aids. Fortunately, when shopping for hearing aid batteries, their manufacturers have made things a lot easier for you by standardizing their sizes and color-coding each size; the exact same color codes are used by all hearing aid battery manufacturers. The times listed below for each size are approximations, but will give you a general idea of how long hearing aid batteries of each size should last given standard use:
- 80 hours – Size 10 – Yellow
- 175 hours – Size 312- Brown
- 240 hours – Size 13 – Orange
- 300 hours – Size 675 – Blue
Don’t forget to turn your hearing aid off when you are not wearing it for the longest battery life. Store your unused hearing aid batteries at room temperature, indoors, and in their original, unopened packaging to ensure their longest possible life.