Hearing Aid Battery Tips: Making Your Power Last in Edmonton

A hearing aid is only useful when it has power. Whether your devices use disposable zinc-air batteries or a built-in rechargeable cell, understanding how to manage battery life prevents the frustrating experience of your hearing aid dying in the middle of a conversation or an important meeting.

Disposable zinc-air batteries

Most non-rechargeable hearing aids use zinc-air batteries, small round cells sealed with a coloured tab. The colour tells you the size:

• Size 10 (yellow tab): Smallest, used in completely-in-canal (CIC) and invisible-in-canal (IIC) aids. Lasts roughly 3 to 5 days.
• Size 312 (brown tab): Common in receiver-in-canal (RIC) and in-the-ear (ITE) aids. Lasts roughly 5 to 7 days.
• Size 13 (orange tab): Used in behind-the-ear (BTE) and some ITE aids. Lasts roughly 10 to 14 days.
• Size 675 (blue tab): Largest, used in high-power BTE aids. Lasts roughly 2 to 3 weeks.

Tips for longer battery life

Wait after removing the tab. Zinc-air batteries are activated by air. After you peel the tab, wait about two minutes before inserting the battery. This allows the zinc to fully activate and can extend battery life by up to 20 percent.

Open the battery door at night. When you take your hearing aids out for the night, open the battery door. This turns the hearing aid off, stops power drain, and allows moisture to escape from the battery compartment.

Store batteries at room temperature. Do not refrigerate hearing aid batteries. Cold temperatures do not extend their life and can introduce condensation. Store them in a cool, dry place away from coins and keys, which can short-circuit them.

Buy from reliable sources. Old stock has reduced life. Purchase from your hearing clinic or a retailer with good turnover. Check the expiration date on the package.

Keep them away from children and pets. Button batteries are a serious swallowing hazard. Store them securely and dispose of used batteries promptly.

Rechargeable hearing aids

Most modern rechargeable hearing aids use lithium-ion cells. You place them in a charging case overnight and they run all day, typically 18 to 24 hours on a full charge, sometimes more with a charging case that also dries the aids.

Tips for rechargeable devices

Charge every night. Lithium-ion batteries perform best when charged regularly. You do not need to drain them completely before recharging.

Use the case. The charging case protects the aids, dries them, and keeps them topped up. Do not leave them sitting loose on a nightstand.

Keep the charging contacts clean. A soft, dry cloth can remove debris from the contacts on both the hearing aids and the case. Dirty contacts lead to intermittent charging.

Expect gradual capacity loss. Like any lithium-ion battery, rechargeable hearing aid cells slowly lose maximum capacity over years. Most last the full life of the hearing aid (4 to 6 years). If you notice the battery not lasting a full day, your audiologist can check the cell health.

Edmonton winters and battery life

Cold weather can temporarily reduce battery performance. If you spend extended time outdoors in an Edmonton winter, keep spare disposable batteries in an inside pocket close to your body heat. Rechargeable aids are less affected but can drain slightly faster in extreme cold.

Need help with your hearing aids in Edmonton?

If your hearing aids are draining faster than expected, cutting out, or not holding a charge, bring them in to any of our Medicine Place Hearing Care locations. We will check the battery compartment, clean the contacts, and make sure everything is working properly. If the rechargeable cell needs replacement, we can arrange that too.