Hearing Aids — Getting the Best out of Batteries and More
Once you've gotten used to being able to hear again, there's nothing worse than having your hearing aid battery run out — especially when you most need it. This guide will give you great tips on what you can do to prolong your hearing aid battery life, as well as a great alternative.
Don't Stockpile Batteries
While it may seem like a good idea to stockpile batteries just in case you run out, it could prove to be a false economy. Hearing aid batteries can last for many years, stored at room temperature in their packaging, but their power does reduce with time. Only buying two packs at a time will mean that you have a replacement when you need it, but you're not storing batteries long enough for them to become less efficient.
Only Remove the Battery Tab When You're Ready to Use It
Your hearing aid battery is a zinc-air battery. The tab covers tiny holes that allow air to enter the battery and stimulate the zinc. The battery becomes live and starts draining power the moment it activates. Therefore, it is a waste to activate the battery if you don't plan to use it immediately.
Wait Five Minutes after Removing the Battery Tag
When you remove the tab off a battery, allow at least five minutes for your battery to become fully activated before you insert it into your hearing aid. The battery will not only perform better, but it will also last longer.
Turn off Your Hearing Aid When Not in Use
When you remove your hearing aid to bathe or at night, open the battery door. This disengages the battery and turns the device off, saving battery power and resulting in longer use between changes. If you won't be using them for a while, take out the battery completely.
Consider Rechargeable Hearing Aids
Rechargeable hearing aids can offer great advantages over the conventional zinc-air battery aids. If you experience cold winters, rechargeable hearing aid batteries will suffer little, if any, loss in cold weather, unlike zinc-air batteries. The batteries can be charged overnight and will hold their charge for many hours. This makes experiencing battery failure at an inconvenient time less likely.
If you struggle to get out and about or have problems with dexterity, you'll benefit from not having to make regular trips to purchase replacement batteries and not having to struggle with the fitting of small batteries into your aids.
Perhaps the most compelling reason to consider rechargeable hearing aids is the environmental aspect. You don't have to feel guilty about using a battery for a short period and then sending it to landfill.
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