Hearing Aid Battery life
We are often asked question “how long should my hearing aid batteries last?” There is no easy answer because everybody has a different energy usage profile. Let's look at some of the factors that affect battery life in your hearing aids.
Zinc Air Batteries
Hearing aid batteries actually require air to activate the chemicals inside the battery. To get the most life out of your battery we strongly recommend letting the battery sit for one minute after the sticker has been removed before placing it in your hearing aid to allow the air to fully power up the battery. One important thing to remember is to not remove the sticker from the battery unless you are going to be using it shortly. Once the sticker has been removed, the battery will slowly start to drain even if it is not in the hearing aid.
Do you have questions about your hearing aids battery life? Give us a call and will be happy to answer all your questions (204) 788-1083.
Hearing Aid Battery Usage Factors:
Hours in Use
Everyone has a slightly different schedule and preference as to when they wear their hearing aids and when they do not. Your usage of a hearing aid is directly proportional to the amount of time you get from a hearing aid battery.
Sophistication of The Hearing Aid
The more advanced features a hearing aid has the greater the draw on the battery. Just like your laptop running all your applications at once, advanced hearing aids running all features at once will have a greater draw and shorten the battery.
Environment
Moist & Dry Environments
Hot and humid weather is not the best for electronic components and hearing aid batteries are no different. Using a dry aid kit in moist environments is a good idea when the hearing aid is not in use, however the battery should be removed before the hearing aid is placed in the dry aid kit.
Temperature
Living in Winnipeg with cold winters we all know that when the temperature drops batteries have less energy. Anyone who’s ever taken their camera outside winter is usually shocked by how short the battery life becomes. Your hearing aid batteries are no different.
Altitude
Believe it or not, altitude can lower hearing aid battery voltage. This is due to reduced oxygen at elevated altitudes. Battery life is generally shorter as well.
Sound Levels Around You
The noise around you actually affects many hearing aids battery life. If you spend most of your time in a quiet environment the battery has less draw on it than if it was compensating for a noisy venue such as a concert or restaurant when the volume is at maximum.
Battery Storage Tips
For the best battery life always store batteries at room temperature in their original packaging. Never carry batteries loose in your pockets or handbag as the risk of shorting out when rubbed against your keys or change is a real possibility. In extreme cases a short can cause the battery to rupture. Additionally, for safety always keep batteries out of the reach of children and animals.
Newer Batteries Are Better
With some things we consume in our day-to-day lives fresh is best. The longer a battery sits on a shelf the more energy it will lose due to “self discharge”. When purchasing hearing aid batteries, it is best to check the expiry date to make sure they are not expired. This is normal for all batteries to slowly lose energy over time.
Quality Counts: Hearing Aid Warranties
It is important to also be mindful of the quality of battery you are purchasing as it has been reported that some hearing aid manufacturers are not honoring hearing aid warranties when sub standard batteries have caused damage to the hearing aids.
At Polo Park Hearing Centre, we provide state of the art Rayovac and Starkey batteries.
Do you have questions about your hearing aids battery life? Give us a call and will be happy to answer all your questions (204) 788-1083.
