How to Take Proper Care Of Your Hearing Aid And Its Batteries

If you own or use a hearing aid, you probably want to keep it functioning for as long as you can. Keeping a hearing aid running is a matter of keeping up on the battery and daily maintenance. Many hearing aid owners don’t know the basics of troubleshooting problems with hearing aids and batteries. The good thing is, batteries are easy to maintain and store. Here are the guidelines on how to best preserve both the running life and lifespan of hearing aid batteries.

The basics of battery care

Hearing aid batteries don’t have to be difficult to care for or maintain, as long as you keep the following tips in mind you’ll get the most out of these tiny tools:

• Don’t remove the sticker, cover or protective sleeve on the individual battery until you are ready to use them
• Keep them away from moisture (and out of the refrigerator!)
• Store in a dry place out of a child or pet’s reach

Remember, batteries that are not properly maintained will lose much of their initial charging capacity. Most expose their terminals when a small sticky or sleeve cover is taken off. Thus, batteries must be carefully stored to prevent these covers from coming off inadvertently. Always make sure you keep this sleeve in place if you’re not using the battery right away. Don’t be tempted to take it off. In many cases, people remove this sleeve and then forget about the battery altogether.

Moist air is corrosive to battery circuits, so it’s important to store them in dry locations away from wet areas. While drawers or cabinets without damp contents are good places for storage, it’s not true that leaving batteries in a refrigerator will keep them lasting longer. This may cause condensation to form once removed and can damage the battery. Even if damage isn’t sustained to the battery, there is no evidence to support keeping them in the refrigerator increases longevity.

All batteries contain toxic compounds and must be kept away from children and pets. If a child or pet ever swallows a battery, promptly seek medical care. 

Batteries vary in capacity according to size or shape, and smaller devices feature smaller-capacity batteries which run out faster. Most hearing aid batteries can last at least a week when used for no more than 16 hours daily. On average, a smaller type 10 would be drained in less than 5 days of use. Bear in mind that the more impaired your hearing is, the more power will be used for amplification. Higher usage of Bluetooth and other accessories will also decrease battery life more quickly. 

Keep your battery life at its peak by opening the battery compartment each night when your hearing aid is not in use, allowing it to air out.

You should understand a battery does not last forever and can expire. Each year that goes by, your battery will lose a little more of its capacity. Some experts believe a battery can lose anywhere from one to three percent of its operating capacity every year from the date it was made. This happens whether you use your battery or not. The general rule is a battery will retain about 80-90 percent of its original life after four years. So keep this is mind if you have an older battery or have been storing a battery for a longer period of time.

If you keep these simple steps and instructions in mind, you’ll be able to extend the life of your battery and keep your hearing aids functioning properly. By following the guidelines mentioned above, your battery will last longer and you’ll have a better experience with your hearing aid.