The question of just how long hearing aid batteries can be expected to last isn’t as simple to respond to as it seems, because battery life hinges on numerous factors. One consideration is the company manufacturing the hearing aid. Battery life differs by manufacturer and also by model from the same manufacturer. The length of time your hearing aid batteries will last also depends on the manner in which you use the hearing aid – hearing aids demand constant power when they are turned on, so the more time each day you use it, the faster you’ll use up batteries.
There are even different battery lives in the exact same size of battery depending on the manufacturer, and depending on whether you are purchasing 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 start to lose power the second you remove the adhesive tab on the bottom and will continue losing charge even if the hearing aid is turned off while other battery types will only drain when they are inside a hearing aid that is powered on.
Because the expense of batteries adds up, if you are looking for a new hearing aid, you should do some research to find out which types and models of hearing aids have the best battery life, because that may influence your decision. If you have an existing hearing aid and are searching for the most long-lasting batteries for it, the Internet can be a great source of comparative ratings and reviews.
Fortunately, when shopping for hearing aid batteries, their manufacturers have made things a little 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 following list of battery life is an approximation, of course, but it should give you a basic idea of how long hearing aid batteries of each size should last:
- 80 hours – Size 10 – Yellow
- 175 hours – Size 312- Brown
- 240 hours – Size 13 – Orange
- 300 hours – Size 675 – Blue
Remember to turn your hearing aid off when you are not wearing it for the longest battery life. To ensure the longest shelf life for hearing aid batteries you’ve purchased but haven’t used yet, store them indoors, at room temperature, and in their original, unopened packaging.