Hearing aid batteries are very different from regular batteries in other electronic products. They are the size of a button with the complexity of a supercomputer. With zinc-air systems providing longer life than previous batteries, hearing aids can last longer before needing a change.
Finding the right battery
The Hearing Guy has access to all the major battery types for hearing aids. During the hearing aid fitting, the compatible battery type is discussed with the patient. Clear color coding prevents the wrong battery from being used. The simple system of a bigger size equaling a longer battery life applies. Daily usage and advanced features will still be the biggest impact on drainage, so hearing aid types matter. The four main sizes are 10 (yellow), 13 (orange), 312 (brown) and 675 (blue). Once the seal is broken on a new battery, it must be used immediately for the best results.
Storing batteries
Having backup batteries is recommended for device types without a recharging feature. Even when fully sealed, hearing aid batteries should be stored correctly so they maintain optimal performance. Places that are not too cool or warm will be perfect for any sized battery. It is bad practice to store them in the glove box of a car, especially during humid parts of the year. Any air that penetrates the protective film will cause battery damage. Once this happens, the energy will slowly discharge until the battery is fully drained. Safe storage will ensure that fresh batteries are always available when the originals need to be replaced.
The benefits of a rechargeable hearing aid
Instead of replacing batteries when they go bad, a rechargeable pair of hearing aids can be ‘docked’ and charged. Users that have dexterity issues won’t have to change batteries smaller than the size of buttons. It’s also a convenience feature for patients that use a lot of high-end hearing aid features. Battery drainage adds up when using modern hearing aid software. Rechargeable solutions have similar daily life to replaceable batteries without any of the headaches. They nullify problems associated with earwax in the battery compartment, corrupt backup batteries and issues closing the compartment. The recharging feature can’t be added, which means it is only available on certain models.