How Long Disposable Hearing Aid Batteries Last

That duration range is pretty large, so let’s break that down more. There are four different hearing aid battery sizes and what size your hearing aids use will depend on the style of your hearing aids. To help clarify matters, here is a quick reference on hearing aid battery sizes and general charge lifespan:

• Size 675 (blue tab) – 

  The largest of the hearing aid batteries, this battery will always be color-coded with a blue tab, no matter the manufacturer of the battery. These hearing aid batteries are meant to power a BTE style hearing aid, measure 11.6mm by 5.4mm, and last for 9-20 days. Streaming with your hearing aids can strongly impact the lifespan of these batteries.\

• Size 13 (orange tab) –

  Next in size is the orange-tabbed Size 13 hearing aid batteries. These hearing aid batteries are often used to power BTE hearing aids and the larger ITE hearing aids and measure 7.9mm by 5.4mm. These hearing aid batteries have a similar variation in their run time to the Size 675, but they last far less with a lifespan range of 6-14 days.

• Size 312 (brown tab) –

  For the smaller hearing aids, you have the Size 312 hearing aid batteries, which are easily identified by their brown tab. These hearing aid batteries are used to power a variety of smaller hearing aids such as the mini BTE, RIC, and ITC hearing aids. They measure 7.9mm by 3.6mm and tend to last between 3-10 days.

• Size 10 (yellow tab) –

  Smallest hearing aid battery, the Size 10 comes with a bright yellow tab. Measuring 5.8mm by 3.6mm, these little hearing aid batteries are designed to be used with mini RIC, IIC, and CIC hearing aids. These batteries last the shortest amount of time, ranging from 3-7 days.

As you can see, there is still a pretty wide variation in how long your hearing aid batteries will last. But you don’t have to settle for short-lived batteries.

Ways To Make Disposable Hearing Aid Batteries Last Longer

By following the advice of our hearing health care specialist here at Modern Hearing Solutions of Wyoming, there are ways you can help make your hearing aid batteries last longer and work more effectively for you.

Keep the tab on – First and foremost, do not remove the tab on your hearing aid batteries until you are ready to use them. These zinc-air batteries are designed to activate when they interact with air. The tab keeps them sealed away from air and charged until you need them.

Use clean hands on the batteries – When you do need a new set of hearing aid batteries, always use clean hands to handle them. As these batteries are quite tiny and rely on airflow, any grease, sweat, or other debris on your hands can transfer to the batteries and shorten their lifespan.

Let fresh batteries rest – Before you peel off the tab and pop your battery immediately into your hearing aid, allowing the battery to rest for 2-5 minutes. With some time to allow good airflow, the hearing aid battery can become fully activated.

Turn off hearing aids – When you don’t need your hearing aids, turn them completely off. It will take the stress off of both your hearing aid batteries and your hearing aids, helping them both to last longer.

Open hearing aid doors – After you are done with your hearing aids for the night, be sure to open the hearing aid battery doors. Not only does this cut the circuit between the hearing aids and the batteries—helping to reduce the strain on both—but it also allows for any moisture in the battery compartment to dry.

Keep contacts clean – The battery contacts on your hearing aids can become corroded without the proper care due to the moisture and earwax that can accumulate. Damaged or corroded battery contacts will definitely shorten the life of your hearing aid batteries. So, as you clean your hearing aids, be sure to keep the battery contacts clean too.

Store extra batteries properly – Hearing aid batteries come in packs, so you will always have extras. It is important that they are stored properly so that they don’t become damaged. It is best to store them at room temperature, so avoid any extreme temperature. Also, keep them away from making contact with things like coins, keys, and smartphones.

Indicators That Let You Know It’s Time For Fresh Batteries

When it comes to disposable hearing aid batteries, how you are alerted that the batteries are running down can be different depending on the hearing aid manufacturer.

Some hearing aids will give a series of beeps when you close the battery doors, with four beeps indicating full power and progresses down to just one beep. Other hearing aids will occasionally beep a warning when the battery is getting near the end of its lifespan. Our hearing specialist will be sure to walk you through the indicators for your particular style of hearing aids.

However, one thing you should be aware of is that you should not allow your hearing aid batteries to become completely dead. Hearing aid batteries that have completely discharged their stored electrical charge can swell up. If your batteries become swollen, it can become very difficult to get the batteries out without damaging your hearing aids.

Duration Of Rechargeable Hearing Aid Batteries

Of course, you can skip dealing with disposable hearing aid batteries if you opt for rechargeable hearing aids. Most major hearing aid brands now offer at least one style of rechargeable hearing aid, and our hearing aid specialist can help you find the right fit for you. For a basic overview of some of the top rechargeable hearing aids and how long their charges last, see the chart below.

Visit Modern Hearing Solutions Of Wyoming For Your Hearing Aid Battery Needs

Should you be interested in stocking up on hearing aid batteries, you can rely on our hearing clinic. We carry a stock of fresh hearing aid batteries and can help keep you supplied.

Also, depending on your hearing aids, you may be able to have them converted to be rechargeable hearing aids. Not all hearing aids are compatible for rechargeable conversion, and our hearing aid specialist will be able to tell you one way or another if yours are convertible.

If you would like our hearing instrument specialist’s assistance with your hearing aid batteries or other hearing issues you are experiencing, please contact us to set up your appointment.