Even though it might seem to be a straightforward question to ask how long hearing aid batteries will last, it isn’t. How long hearing aid batteries last depends upon a large number of variables. How long a battery will last depends on who manufactured the battery, and can even vary across hearing aid models from the exact same manufacturer. How long your batteries will last will also depend on the way in which you use your hearing aid – hearing aids require constant power when they are on, so the more hours of the day you use yours, the faster you’ll use up batteries.
In addition, there are variations in battery life across battery manufacturers, and the same manufacturer may offer different lines of batteries, some that last longer than others. Hearing aid battery life also depends on battery type; for example some types are only discharging power when they are inside a hearing aid that is switched on, and other types (such as, zinc-air batteries) start burning stored energy as soon as you remove the adhesive strip on the bottom of the battery and they are exposed to oxygen, whether the hearing aid is turned on or not.
Because the cost of hearing aid batteries adds up, if you’re looking for a new hearing aid, you should do some research to see which types and models of hearing aids are known for the best battery life, because that could influence your decision. If you have an existing hearing aid and are searching for the longest lasting batteries for it, the Internet can be a great source of comparative ratings and reviews.
Hearing aid and battery manufacturers have worked to make things less confusing by standardizing their sizes and using unique color codes for each size which is the same for every manufacturer. The following list of battery life is estimated, of course, but it should give you a general idea of how long batteries of each size should last:
- #675 – Blue – 300 hours
- #312 – Brown – 175 hours
- #13 – Orange – 240 hours
- #10 – Yellow – 80 hours
Don’t forget to turn your hearing aid off when you are not wearing it for the longest battery life. Store your unused batteries at room temperature, indoors, and in their original, unopened packaging to ensure their longest possible life.