Hearing aids are getting more and more advanced. With all the extra processing power and new features in today’s hearing aids, you can typically get 3-10 days use from a single battery. Why is the life of a hearing aid battery so unpredictable, why does one battery last a week, and another just two or three days? Much depends on your amount of hearing aid use, streaming and how you care for your hearing aids.
Still, there are steps you can take to maximise the life of your batteries and optimise the performance of your hearing aids.
Here are 10 tips to get the most out of your hearing aid battery:
1. Let the battery "breathe" for 3-5 minutes. After removing the tab from the battery, let the battery sit for 3-5 minutes before installing it in your hearing aid. This "activation" time allows air to reach the materials inside the battery and activate them.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly before changing batteries. Grease and dirt on the batteries may damage the hearing aid. Also, grease and dirt can clog up the air pores in the battery.
3. Open the battery door at night. When you're not wearing your hearing aid, turn it off or open the battery door to minimise battery drain. Leave the battery compartment of your hearing device open at night so moisture can escape. Doing so will keep the battery from corroding and damaging the hearing aid.
4. Use a hearing aid dehumidifier. A hearing aid dehumidifier will help absorb moisture out of your hearing aid and battery. This will allow the battery power to be used more efficiently.
5. Remove the batteries entirely if you won't be using the device for an extended period of time. This also helps to avoid corrosion and damage from trapped moisture.
6. Check the expiration date on the batteries. Over time, batteries will drain slightly while sitting on the shelf. Ideally, you should buy batteries that have an expiration date a year or further from your purchase date.
7. Use the oldest pack of batteries first. The newest packs will have the furthest expiration date than your older packs of batteries. You want to ensure that you use the oldest batteries first, so that you are getting the most life out of them.
8. Keep the stickers on the battery. The sticker tab on the battery keeps the battery "fresh." As soon as the sticker is removed, the battery is activated and starts draining. You want to make sure you don't peel the sticker tab off until you need to use that battery.
9. Keep the batteries in a cool dry place. Storing new, unused batteries in extreme temperatures can cause the battery to drain/have a shorter life.
10. Invest in a rechargeable battery hearing device. Rechargeable hearing aids and batteries — like Starkey Muse iQ rechargeable hearing aids — are starting to come out into the market. Rechargeable batteries allow you to charge the battery at night and get a full day's worth of use. Rechargeable batteries need to be replaced on a yearly basis. If you're interested in the new technology, talk to your hearing healthcare professional.