Getting the most from your hearing aid batteries

Good working batteries are essential to a properly functioning hearing aid.  Over the years there have been many different approaches to making sure your batteries last longer.  The following tips are based on the very latest generation of zinc air batteries, and will help you get the best performance out of your hearing aid batteries…

1. Battery Storage

The ideal temperature to store your batteries is between 10 and 25°C (i.e room temperature). In the past, putting batteries in the fridge made them last longer; the exact opposite is true with today’s zinc air technology, with the moisture from the cool air actually damages your batteries.

2. Changing your batteries

When the time comes to replace the battery in your hearing aid, wash your hands thoroughly. Grease and dirt on hearing aid batteries can cause damage to the hearing device.

3. The 5 Minute Rule

To activate your hearing aid battery, you must remove the sticker—this allows air to mix with the zinc oxide that is inside the battery and activate it. If you wait just five minutes after removing the sticker before putting the battery in the hearing aid, the battery can improve the battery life.

The improved battery life is due to allowing the zinc to energize as much as possible as it mixes with oxygen.

4. Turn if off when it’s not being used

Anytime the hearing aid is not being used, it should be turned off, placed in a safe spot and left with the battery door open.

Switch off your hearing aids by simply opening the battery door and leaving your hearing aids in a safe, dry place. Like we mentioned above, this can also help drain any moisture that is trapped in the battery compartment.

5. Use your oldest batteries first

Always use your oldest package of hearing aid batteries first.

Although hearing aid batteries can be stored for quite some time, the longer the batteries sit in storage, the shorter their life will be. If you always use the oldest package first, your spare batteries will never get too old.