The question of precisely how long hearing aid batteries can be expected to last is not as simple to respond to as it seems, because battery life hinges on numerous factors. How long a battery will last depends on who manufactured the battery, and may even vary across different models from the exact same manufacturer. The length of time your batteries will last also depends on the manner in which you use the hearing aid – hearing aids require continuous power as long as they are turned on, so the more time each day you use it, the more quickly you will use up batteries.
There are even varying battery lives in the same size of hearing aid battery depending on the manufacturer, and depending on whether you are purchasing that manufacturer’s “premium” line or their “normal” line. Battery life also depends on battery type; for example some varieties are only being drained when they are inside a hearing aid that is on, while other varieties (such as, zinc-air batteries) start burning power as soon as you take away the adhesive strip on the bottom of the battery and they are in contact with oxygen, whether the hearing aid is turned on or not.
If you are in the market for a new hearing aid, you might want to do some research first to see which have the best ratings for battery life, because that may influence your decision about which type or which model of hearing aid to buy. In the same way, a bit of time invested in research may help you uncover superior batteries for your existing hearing aids. Hearing aid and battery manufacturers have worked to make things simpler by standardizing their sizes and using unique color codes for each battery size which is the same for every manufacturer.
How long do hearing aid batteries last?
The hours listed below for each battery size are estimates, but will give you a basic idea of how long batteries of each size should last given normal use:
- Yellow – Size 10 – 80 hours
- Orange – Size 13 – 240 hours
- Brown – Size 312 – 175 hours
- Blue – Size 675 – 300 hours
For the longest battery life, remember to turn your hearing aid off when you’re not using it. And to ensure hearing aid batteries you have already purchased but haven’t used yet remain fresh and retain their power as long as possible, store them indoors in their original unopened packages, and at room temperature.