Although it might seem to be a simple question to ask just how long hearing aid batteries should be expected to last, it isn’t. Precisely how long hearing aid batteries last depends on quite a few factors. One consideration is the manufacturer of the hearing aid. Battery life varies by manufacturer and also by model from the same manufacturer. The way you use your hearing aid will also influence battery life; the more hours a day it is switched on, the more rapidly you will use up batteries.
Additionally, there are variations in battery life across battery manufacturers, and the same manufacturer may offer different lines of batteries, some which are supposed to last longer than others. Some hearing aid batteries will not start to drain their power resources unless they’re inserted into a hearing aid that is switched on, and some (such as zinc-air batteries) will begin to lose power the instant you remove the adhesive covering on the bottom of the battery, and will continue to lose power even if the hearing aid is not on.
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 choice. 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 four common sizes, each of which is marked with a unique color code, which is consistent no matter who the manufacturer is. The following list of battery life is estimated, of course, but it should give you a general idea of how long hearing aid batteries of each size should last:
- #675 – Blue tag – 300 hours
- #312 – Brown tag – 175 hours
- #13 – Orange tag – 240 hours
- #10 – Yellow tag – 80 hours
To ensure the longest life for your batteries when they are in the hearing aid, turn the hearing aid off when you’re not using it. To ensure the longest shelf life for batteries you have purchased but haven’t used yet, store them indoors, at room temperature, and in their original, unopened packaging.