Hearing aids are very useful tools to help us reconnect with our hearing world. In order for them to function efficiently, the hearing aids need to have properly working batteries. The standard battery sizes for hearing aids are 10, 13, 312, and 675. These sizes are marked using designated colors to make them easily identifiable.
The battery life of your hearing aids depends on a wide variety of factors, such as the model of your hearing aids, your surrounding climate, the type of hearing aid battery that you have, and how well you take care of your hearing aids. You can extend the battery life of your hearing devices by taking these few simple steps.
Your hearing aid batteries are sensitive, prone to short circuiting and being damaged when they come in contact with moisture or heat. This is why it is important to store your batteries securely at room temperature. Do not put your batteries in the fridge, as was once the practice. Make sure you do not store your batteries along with other metallic items such as coins or car keys since this can result in short circuit.
Always keep the plastic tabs intact on your batteries until just before use. Since the Zinc in these batteries is activated by coming in contact with air, removing the tabs too early would activate the batteries prematurely.
The most basic way in which you can extend battery life is to switch off your hearing aids whenever they are not in use. While storing them, make sure the battery doors are left open to allow air to circulate and absorb any trapped moisture that can damage the batteries. If you are not going to be using your hearing aids for a long time, make sure you take out the batteries from them to prevent any corrosion over time.
When changing your batteries, make sure you thoroughly wash and dry your hands before touching them. Sweaty or dirty hands can result in damage to your batteries or your hearing aids. After you remove the plastic tab, wait for a minute before putting them into the hearing aids so that the air around you can activate your battery.
Make sure you do not stock pile your batteries since over time, since the battery power tends to become lower. It is always a good idea to buy a fresh pack of batteries and keep only one other set in reserve for emergencies. Rechargeable batteries are also an option for those who do not like buying batteries constantly. However, these types of batteries are not as efficient or popular as the disposable ones.
In case your new batteries are not working at all, you can easily send them back to the manufacturer. Sometimes manufacturers provide coupons and other times they can send you replacements for your battery. Make sure you buy original batteries from your audiologist or the drug stores since there are lots of fake ones available online at cheaper prices. Even though you may save a few dollars on cheap alternatives, they often have a very low battery life and do not cover any defect.