Hearing Aid Batteries

Hearing Aid Batteries - your questions answered.

How long do hearing aid batteries last?

  The life of a hearing aid battery depends on several factors:

• the power or strength of the hearing aid,
• the number of hours you wear the aid per day
• the amount of power used by the aid in signal processing 
• complexity of the hearing aid
• the number of times you use your remote control (if you have one)
• the size of the battery.

  These factors are related. Hearing aid battery life is usually calculated by the hearing aid manufacturer in hours and usually a range of hearing aid battery life is given. For example a moderate power, moderate technology level hearing aid using a 312 battery may last 100-120 hours, if you wear your hearing aid 10 hours a day this battery will last you between 1-2 weeks.
 For people who only use their hearing aids intermittently the batteries will gradually run down over a period of weeks even if the aid is not being worn – and is switched off - so don’t be surprised if when you come back to your aids the hearing aid batteries have discharged and you need to replace them – all the more reason to wear them every day!

Are hearing aids batteries all the same size?

  No, there are several different sizes of hearing aid batteries, depending on the hearing aid; there is a  standard colour on the packet  for the different sizes of hearing aid  batteries.

• The smallest hearing aid battery currently sold is a size 10, which has a yellow packet
• Then next, size 312, comes in a brown packet,
• The next, size 13, comes in an orange packet
• The largest hearing aid battery is size 675; the packet is blue.

  If you are not sure which size battery your hearing aid takes, ask your Independent Clinic, and they will advise you.

Where do I buy my hearing aid batteries?

      
  The best place to purchase hearing aid batteries is at your Independent Audiology clinic. They are always fresh due to the high turnover and are very competitively priced. However, you can also buy hearing aid batteries at a number of outlets, including supermarkets, pharmacies and hearing associations. Grey Power New Zealand also sells batteries.   

How do I store and dispose of hearing aid batteries?

  Hearing aid batteries should be stored in a cool dry place. Most batteries used today are a zinc air type and have a small adhesive tag on them that needs to be removed prior to use. Removing the tag activates the battery and begins the discharge process. If they are stored in too hot, or damp conditions it can affect the adhesive on the battery and reduce the life of the hearing aid battery. Hearing aid batteries that are incorrectly stored are also more likely to develop battery corrosion; if there is evidence of this on the hearing aid battery it should not be used. In the past most hearing aid batteries contained significant amounts of mercury and so could not be disposed of in the normal rubbish. Now they are zinc-air batteries,  and in New Zealand can be placed in the normal household rubbish.

Visit an NZiAud clinic for honest, professional independent advice.