Factors Affecting Hearing Aid Battery Life
Batteries for your hearing aid are critical to its performance, so it is important to understand what can affect them and how you can get the most out of the ones you choose.
Understanding hearing aid batteries
First and foremost, it is important to understand the specifics of hearing aid batteries. Traditional hearing aid batteries, such as those produced by big brand name Rayovac, use what is known as zinc-air technology, which is different from the way in which the more familiar lithium and alkaline batteries work. These hearing aid batteries need the oxygen in the air to operate and produce the energy required to power your device.
Common problems
There are several factors that can affect battery life - some real and some perceived. One common issue is that a hearing aid battery seems to be dead even though you have only just put it in your hearing aid. In many cases, the battery is not dead at all; it just hasn’t been given enough time to "air up". Your hearing aid battery needs air to flow into its cell to activate it. This starts when you remove the tabs from these kind of batteries, but it can take at least a minute for enough air to get in to activate it properly. This is why you should always allow it to "air up" for at least 60 seconds before you start up your hearing aid. If a new battery does appear to be dead, take it out, wait a minute and then try it again.
Removing the colored tab in your hearing aid battery before you actually need to use it can also reduce its life when the time comes that you want to put it in your device. Taking it out too soon can lead to it drying out and shortening its life. You should also try to store your batteries in an appropriate caddy if you want to get rid of the packaging.
Like other types of batteries, your batteries will lose charge over time, even if you don’t use them. If you have never removed the tab, however, they will only lose less than 10 percent of their overall charge per year.
In order to get the best out of your batteries, therefore, use the oldest ones you have first. The best-before dates should be on the back of the package. If you buy your batteries from us, it is worth knowing that Rayovac hearing aid batteries have an impressive four-year shelf life.
Differences in batteries
Something else that can affect the life of a battery is its size. Hearing aid batteries are available in a variety of sizes, and this will determine how much energy is stored per cell. It is generally the case that the bigger the battery, the longer the life.
Your hearing
The level of life you get from your batteries may also depend on the amount of your hearing loss and how much power you need from your hearing aid. This is why it is impossible to give an exact life for any battery as their expected performance periods will vary according to a range of factors.
The device you use will also affect the battery life, and more advanced hearing aids generally need more power. High currents are generally needed for noise cancellation, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless streaming. The amount of use you get out of your aid will also be a determining factor. When you are not using your hearing aid, you should open the battery compartment, switch it off, or take out the battery in order to preserve battery life.
Your environment
Your environment can have a big effect on battery life. Noisy environments will cause your battery to drain faster, as will having the volume set too high. Altitude, temperature and humidity can also affect the lifespan of your hearing aid batteries. Dry conditions can dry them out and excessive humidity can cause damage, while temperatures under 10 degrees Celsius and above 25 degrees can cause your batteries to perform less effectively. High altitudes also have lower oxygen levels, which can affect the power supply of hearing aid batteries. Fortunately, there are batteries available to cope with extreme conditions if required.
Keep things clean
Keeping your hands and your hearing aid clean, with products such as the InnerScope Hearing Care Cleaning Kit, can also help to prolong battery life as grease and dirt can affect performance, too. Make sure that you don’t allow your aid or the batteries to come into contact with oils, creams, or sprays.
