BUYING HEARING AID BATTERIES: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS?

Hearing aids are support systems for hearing that transmit external sound waves to a hearing-impaired person by adapting and transforming them according to their hearing needs. These little technological objects are all powered by batteries specially designed for hearing aids, because they require an energy source. We can distinguish between three options of hearing aid batteries.

Three types of hearing aid batteries

First of all, there are conventional hearing aid batteries from various brands, which contain no mercury and are easy to transport and simple to use. They are replaced between every two days and every three weeks depending on the size of the battery, and they can be found in stores — and preferably from your hearing care professional — in the form of a package of around 4 to 12 batteries. You should therefore consider turning off your hearing aid when it is removed to save the battery as much as possible.

Then, there are rechargeable hearing aid batteries, which allow the device to work for a very long time with the same battery. Be careful, however: rechargeable hearing aid batteries don’t last forever, and it may be necessary to replace them once a year or every 3 years depending on the technology used by the manufacturer. Thanks to a charger that works by placing the whole hearing aid inside, the rechargeable battery can be charged in around 3 to 6 hours for full power, for use up to 24 hours, depending on the size of the battery and therefore that of your hearing aid.

Finally, hearing aids with no battery or manipulation to do work with a totally independent battery built into the hearing aid that isn’t manipulated. The whole device must therefore be replaced once the battery is dead. This type of device is still very hard to find on the hearing aid market. The existing model is the continuous-wear device, which is worn 24/7, 4 mm from the eardrum. Very advantageous, this type of hearing aid may be prescribed to you following a complete examination carried out by a hearing care professional, who will determine if you’re the right candidate for a continuous-wear device.

The vast majority of hearing aids currently available on the market are powered by a conventional battery, which is increasingly small the smaller the device is. The smaller the battery, the more frequently it will need to be replaced. There are four different sizes of hearing aid batteries among the leading brands of battery manufacturers, and their labelling is specific, because you can’t put another type of battery in a hearing aid.

Features of hearing aid batteries

Hearing aid batteries have a small protective tab that must be removed for the battery to work. This tab guarantees that the battery is new and 100% charged. By removing this protective tab, the battery starts working, because it’s a “zinc-air” battery: when the air penetrates the battery, it creates energy. It’s best to leave the battery outside your device for a few seconds to maximize its potential. To insert the battery into your hearing aid, always start by following the instructions for your device, observe the sides of the battery, or ask your hearing care professional for advice. Once the battery is almost dead, the hearing aid usually emits a visual or audible signal to indicate that it will need to be replaced soon.