Home > Hearing Aids > Batteries: Your Hearing Aids' Power Source

That source of dependable power is the hearing aid battery. Years ago, mercury and silver were common ingredients in hearing aid batteries. In 1996, federal legislation banned the use of mercury hearing aid batteries because mercury is highly toxic to the environment. Silver is rarely used simply because it is expensive and doesn't provide long battery life.

Today, nearly all batteries are zinc air. Their major component is zinc. The second major ingredient - air - is free and comes from outside the battery. The zinc air battery lasts more than twice as long as a comparably sized mercury or silver battery.

It is not necessary to store zinc air batteries in the refrigerator to prolong their life. In fact, putting your zinc air batteries in the refrigerator is harmful because the moisture that is generated reduces battery life.

Improved battery technology has led to increased battery life, the development of smaller batteries and the development of smaller hearing aids. For example, the size 675 battery was once a commonly used size. Many of today's smaller hearing aids now use a size 312 (only 1/5 the size of the 675), a 10A (1/10 the size) or even the ultra-miniature size 5A (1/20 the size). In other words, as battery life has increased, battery size has decreased and hearing aid manufacturers have been able to design smaller hearing aids. The result is a battery that lasts as long but is much smaller than the battery of 10 years ago.

Battery Life
Why don't hearing aid batteries last longer? After all, a watch battery lasts two years or longer, while hearing aid batteries last only about two weeks - and sometimes much less.

The difference is that hearing aids, with all their electronic components, use a tremendous amount of power - about 50 to 100 times the power used by a watch. The new high technology hearing aids even run a computer program on the power provided by a tiny battery. While it is possible to design a battery that would last two or three months most people are unwilling to give up the small size of today's battery in exchange for that longer life.

TIPS

• Do not remove tab on back of battery until you are about to insert it into your hearing aid.
• If your hearing aid is not working, and you suspect a problem with the battery, do not try more than 2 new ones. If your hearing aid is still not functioning, bring it in for service.
• To better monitor how long your battery is lasting, after removing the tab place it on your calendar. If you do not get the correct amount of usage, your hearing aid may need servicing.
  size 10 - should last last 4 to 8 days
  size 312 - should last 7 to 10 days
  size 13 - should last 12 to 16 days
  size 675 - should last about 3 weeks
  * Based on 16 hr a day usage times.
• Batteries should be stored and carried at room temperature. Avoid storing them in hot places (eg. glove compartment), or cold places (eg. fridge).
• Battery sizes are not interchangeable. Only one size will fit your hearing aid.

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