Even though it seems to be a straightforward question to ask how long hearing aid batteries will last, it’s actually not. How long hearing aid batteries last depends on many factors. One consideration is the company manufacturing the hearing aid. Battery performance varies by manufacturer and also across models from the same manufacturer. The actual life span of a hearing aid battery also depends on the length of time each day that the hearing aid is turned on. As you would expect, the more you use your hearing aid, the faster the batteries will be used up.
There are even varying battery lives in the same size of hearing aid battery depending on the manufacturer, and depending on whether you’re buying that manufacturer’s “premium” line or their “normal” line of batteries. Some hearing aid batteries will not begin to drain their power resources until they’re inserted into a hearing aid that is powered on, but some (such as zinc-air batteries) will begin to burn power the instant you remove the adhesive covering on the bottom of the battery, and will continue to decline in power even if the hearing aid is not on.
If considering new hearing aids, it’s a good idea to do some research on the different models and the types of batteries they use to help you determine the best choice for your lifestyle. If you have an existing hearing aid and are searching for the longest lasting batteries for it, the Internet can be a fabulous source of comparative ratings and reports.
To make things somewhat easier for you, hearing aid batteries are available in 4 common sizes, each of which is marked with a specific color code, which is always the same no matter who the manufacturer is. The times listed below for each size are estimates, but can give you a basic idea of how long hearing aid batteries of each size should last given normal use:
- Yellow – Size 10 about 80 hours
- Orange – Size 13 about 240 hours
- Brown – Size 312 about 175 hours
- Blue – Size 675 about 300 hours
To ensure the longest life for your hearing aid batteries when they are in the hearing aid, turn the device off when you’re not using it. Store your unused batteries at room temperature, indoors, and in their original, unopened packaging to ensure their longest possible life.