There’s no exact answer, only an estimate, for how long hearing aid batteries last because battery life is affected by different factors. Normally, batteries last anywhere from three to 22 days (usually 5-7 days if you use your hearing aids for about 16 hours per day), depending on the hearing aid, the type and capacity of the battery and the amount of use. Most batteries have a “shelf-life” of about three years. To help you get a better idea of how long hearing aid batteries last, read on for a list of influencers:
Hearing loss level. If you have severe or profound hearing loss, your hearing aids will need to provide greater amplification causing batteries to drain faster than someone with mild to moderate hearing loss.
If you find changing batteries a hassle, you may want to consider rechargeable hearing aids - it allows 24 hours of use on one charge. And it takes only three hours of charging to get you that 24 hours, but if you’re in a rush you can charge these hearing aids for just 30 minutes to get six hours of use.
How long and what you use your hearing aids for. Pretty straightforward, right? How much (and what) you use your hearing aids for will affect how long your batteries last. If you wear your hearing aids for a full day and only remove them at night, the battery will drain faster than someone who wears them only for a couple of hours at a time.
Of course, the longer you wear your hearing aids, the easier it is to get adjusted to them, to recognize speech and to minimize the initial exertion that sometimes accompanies wearing aids in the beginning.
If you use your hearing aids for Bluetooth (wireless streaming of phone calls, music or movies) or to connect to the Internet, your battery may drain faster as well.
Humidity and heat. Batteries should be stored at room temperature, between 50-85 degrees Fahrenheit. In the past, it was recommended to store batteries in the refrigerator to prolong their life, but with today’s technology, doing so will ruin them. Avoid leaving batteries out in extreme temperatures like in the car, outside in the heat or in the freezer. Low humidity may cause batteries to dry out faster, while high humidity can cause them to leak.
Removing the sticker. Keep batteries fresh by keeping them sealed. Zinc-air batteries will begin to discharge when you remove the sticker, so it’s best to wait until you’re ready to use them. Even re-applying the sticker won’t stop this process.
Hearing aid battery size. Hearing aid batteries come in four common sizes with universal color coding—10, 13, 312 and 675. To identify the size, most manufacturers use an industry standard color code on their zinc air tabs and packaging—yellow for size 10, brown for size 312 (most common in the US), orange for size 13 and blue for Size 675. The most common type is the zinc-air button battery. Here’s a general guideline for how long hearing aid batteries last by size.
| Size |
Lifetime |
| 10 |
Three to seven days |
| 312 |
Three to 10 days |
| 13 |
Six to 14 days |
| 675 |
Nine to 20 days |
Leaving the battery compartment door open at night. This allows moisture to escape and keeps your hearing aids in good condition. Doing so may help to conserve battery life as well.
Removing batteries when not in use. Remove the batteries if you’re not wearing your hearing aids for more than two days to help maintain battery function.
Hearing aid styles. According to Hearing Tracker, hearing aid batteries last the longest in power behind-the-ear (BTE-P) hearing aids and the shortest in completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids, which use smaller batteries.