How to Prolong the Life of Your Hearing Aid Batteries
So you took the plunge and invested in a pair of hearing aids, good for you! Hearing aids are a life changing device, as they can help you enjoy and embrace life to the fullest. While this powerful device works wonders, they are not self-powering. Meaning they need some juice in order to function, so even though this device is meant to help you, it can’t do it without battery power. Typically, hearing aid batteries last between 3 to 7 days, but there are various factors that can influence the batteries life span:
- Handling and treatment
- Your environment
- The size of the battery
- The type of battery
- Your hearing aid (size and type matters in this equation)
While having a spare pack of batteries on hand is necessary (never hurts to be prepared!), there are some practices you can implement to help keep your batteries going for as long as they possibly can.
1.Dirty hands are the enemy to batteries, as well as to your hearing aids. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before replacing your hearing aid battery.
2.When you are replacing your battery, make sure you use your oldest package of hearing aid batteries first. While batteries can be stored away, it can shorten their life the longer they sit. So if you stock up on batteries, make sure you use your oldest set each time.
3.If you stock up on batteries, make sure you store your extras in a dry location that consistently remains at room temperature. Extreme temperature shifts and high humidity are not good for the batteries and can shorten their life span.
4.You know that plastic tab that sits on your battery? Resist all temptation to remove this tab until you are ready to use the battery. If you jump the gun and pull too soon, you will activate the battery. Activating the battery before you are ready to use it means the battery will not be full when you finally get around to using it.
5.If you ARE ready to use your battery, after you remove the plastic tab, don’t just pop it into your device immediately. Let the battery sit out for at least five minutes before you do so. By doing this, the zinc present in the battery will mix with the air, and can help extend the life your battery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hearing aid batteries generally last between 3 to 7 days depending on factors such as battery size, type, handling, environment, and the specific hearing aid model. Proper care can help maximize battery lifespan.
Washing your hands thoroughly before handling hearing aid batteries helps prevent dirt and oils from contaminating the battery and device. This reduces the risk of damage and ensures optimal battery performance and device longevity.
Hearing aid batteries should be stored in a dry, room temperature environment with consistent conditions. Avoid high humidity and extreme temperature fluctuations, as these can degrade battery quality and shorten their lifespan.
Using the oldest battery package first ensures you use batteries before they degrade over time. Although batteries can be stored, their capacity diminishes the longer they sit unused, so this practice helps maintain optimal battery performance.
You should only remove the plastic tab on a hearing aid battery right before you intend to use it. Removing the tab activates the battery, so doing it too early will reduce its charge and shorten its effective lifespan.
Waiting five minutes after removing the plastic tab allows the zinc in the battery to mix with air, a process that helps activate the battery fully and can extend its life, ensuring better performance once inserted.