How Long Should I Expect My Hearing Aid Batteries to Last?

Even though the battery life for hearing aids might seem a simple question to answer, in truth it hinges on a variety of factors. One variable is the company manufacturing the hearing aid. Battery life differs by manufacturer and also across models from the same manufacturer. The actual life span of a hearing aid battery also hinges upon the amount of time the hearing aid is powered on. Not surprisingly, the more you use your hearing aid, the more rapidly the batteries will be used up.

There are even varying battery lives in the same size of battery depending on the manufacturer, and depending on whether you’re purchasing that manufacturer’s “premium” line or their “normal” line. Battery type is another factor in longevity. For example, zinc-air batteries will start to lose stored energy the instant you remove the adhesive tab on the bottom and will continue losing charge even if the hearing aid is turned off while other battery types will only drain when they’re in a hearing aid that is powered on.

If consider new hearing aids, it’s advisable to do some research on the different models and the types of batteries they use to help you determine the best choice. If you have an existing hearing aid and are looking for the longest lasting batteries for it, the Internet can be a great source of comparative ratings and reports.

Fortunately, when shopping for hearing aid batteries, their manufacturers have made things a lot simpler for you by standardizing their sizes and color-coding each size; the exact same color codes are used by all manufacturers. 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:

• 80 hours – #10 – Yellow
• 175 hours – #312 – Brown
• 240 hours – #13 – Orange
• 300 hours – #675 – Blue

Remember to turn your hearing aid off when you aren’t using it for the longest battery life. To ensure the longest shelf life for hearing aid batteries you have purchased but haven’t used yet, store them indoors, at room temperature, and in their original, unopened packaging.