Hearing Aid Batteries

Rechargeable Hearing Aid Batteries

Rechargeable hearing aid batteries are available for most modern hearing aid styles. The same type of lithium-ion batteries that power smartphones and laptops are now powering hearing aids. Rechargeable hearing aids not only eliminate the hassle of frequently changing batteries but also contribute to environmental friendliness. When you’re in the process of getting hearing aids, it’s worth looking into rechargeable options for their added convenience and long-term benefits in addressing battery-related concerns.

Click here to learn more about rechargeable hearing aids.

Zinc-Air Disposable Batteries for Hearing Aids

Hearing aids that are not rechargeable most commonly use zinc-air disposable batteries. Understanding your zinc-air disposable hearing aid batteries, as well as learning to replace and store them correctly, will help give you the best hearing experience possible from your Beltone hearing aids.

Hearing aids come in a variety of styles and sizes, so they also have different battery requirements. For example, larger hearing aids or those designed for profound hearing loss use more battery power and require larger batteries.

Hearing Aid Battery Sizes

To ensure you select the correct disposable battery size for your hearing aids, batteries come in color-coded and number-coded packages that make the battery size easily identifiable. The sizes include:

• Size 5: Red
• Size 10: Yellow
• Size 312: Brown
• Size 13: Orange
• Size 675: Blue

Are Hearing Aid Batteries Universal?

Wouldn’t it be nice if all devices, no matter what they were—remotes, smoke detectors, kids’ toys—all used the same type of batteries? Unfortunately, that’s not possible, as different devices need different amounts of energy from batteries to work correctly. The same rings true for hearing aids. Although hearing aid batteries are not universal, there are some standards in place to make buying them easier, like the color coding system.

How to Change Your Hearing Aid Batteries

When your hearing aid batteries are low, an intermittent beeping sound will notify you that it’s time to replace them.

Tip: When changing your hearing aid batteries, place a hand towel on the surface of the table. That way, if the battery drops, it won’t bounce off the hard surface and will be easier to find.

Step 1: Activate your new hearing aid batteries

First, you’ll want to verify that you have the right battery size for your hearing aids before opening a new package of fresh batteries. If you’re unsure about the batteries your hearing aids use, check the user guide for your hearing aids on our Help Center or contact your Beltone hearing care professional.

Hearing aids commonly use a type of battery known as a zinc-air battery. Unlike standard batteries, zinc-air batteries require oxygen to function. The battery is activated when a small sticker on the back of the battery is removed and the zinc inside is exposed to air. Be sure that you’re ready to use a battery before removing the sticker.

After removing the sticker, wait a full minute to allow the new batteries to absorb oxygen and activate. Don’t skip this step—the battery needs to absorb an adequate amount of oxygen to work properly.

Tip: Once the sticker is removed, the battery is activated and cannot be resealed, so leave the sticker in place until you are ready to use the battery.

Step 2: Remove the old batteries from your hearing aids

Remove the old batteries from your hearing aids based on the user guide for your hearing aids or as demonstrated by your Beltone hearing care professional. Throw the old batteries away. Zinc-air batteries are not rechargeable and must be discarded after use.

Step 3: Insert new batteries into your hearing aids

Hearing aid batteries have a positive side, which is smooth, and a negative side, which is slightly raised. Insert the new batteries into your hearing aids with the positive side up so that the smooth surface is all you can see.

If you have installed the batteries correctly, you should be able to easily close the battery compartment. If it seems difficult to close the compartment, double check that you installed the batteries correctly.

Tips:

• Change hearing aid batteries immediately when they become low.
• Always carry extra batteries in case your hearing aid battery unexpectedly loses power. If your hearing aid battery loses power, remove it immediately and change it.
• To get the best experience possible, use only Beltone brand hearing aid batteries in your Beltone hearing aids.

Check out the videos below for additional help with how to change your hearing aid batteries!

Change the Batteries on Your RIE Hearing Aids

Change the Batteries on Your Custom Hearing Aids

Change the Batteries on Your BTE Hearing Aids

How Long Do Hearing Aid Batteries Last?

Hearing aid batteries have an average shelf life of three years. Once activated, the lifespan of a hearing aid battery is determined by multiple factors, including the hearing aid size (larger hearing aids require more battery power), the battery size (smaller batteries don’t last as long), the hours of use per day, amplification strength and the amount of wireless streaming.

The average life of a hearing aid battery is as follows:

• Size 5: 3-5 days
• Size 10: 3-7 days
• Size 312: 3-10 days
• Size 13: 6-14 days
• Size 675: 9-20 days

If your hearing aid battery life is noticeably shorter than the above times, consult with a Beltone hearing care professional. We can check the battery contacts in your hearing aid, test for battery drain, and try to determine what may be happening with your hearing aid batteries.

How to Extend the Life of Hearing Aid Batteries

There are many easy steps you can take to improve the life of hearing aid batteries, including:

• Always use the correct battery size for your specific hearing aid (if unsure, you can check your user guide).
• Turn your hearing aids off whenever you are not using them.
• To prevent battery drain, remove the battery completely if you will not be using your hearing aid for an extended period.
• If you use zinc-air batteries, leave the battery tab in place until you are ready to use the battery, as battery tabs cannot be replaced once they have been removed.

How to Store Hearing Aid Batteries

To properly store your hearing aid batteries, consider the following:

• Extreme temperatures can shorten the life of zinc-air batteries, so store your batteries at room temperature (65°F-80°F). Hearing aid batteries will retain up to 97% of their power for a full year when stored at room temperature.
• Humidity can also have a negative impact on the life of batteries, so do not store hearing aid batteries in a bathroom. Consider investing in a hearing aid dehumidifier, which will absorb moisture from your hearing aid and battery, allowing the battery power to be used more efficiently.
• Leave the battery compartments open when you're not wearing your hearing aids. This limits battery drain and helps alleviate moisture build-up that can harm the batteries.
• Do not carry hearing aid batteries loose in a pocket or handbag where they may touch metal items like keys or coins. Interaction with other metal items has the potential to short-circuit your hearing aid batteries.

How Do I Know If My Hearing Aid Battery Is Bad?

Determining if a hearing aid battery is malfunctioning involves recognizing certain signs. If the device’s sound quality diminishes or you experience fluctuations in volume, it could indicate a weakening battery.

Additionally, if the battery seems to drain rapidly, requiring frequent replacements, it may be a sign of deterioration.

Regularly checking for these cues and being attentive to any changes in the device’s performance can help you identify and address potential issues with your hearing aid batteries.

Buy Hearing Aid Batteries Online

You can buy hearing aid batteries online directly from Beltone’s online shop. Beltone hearing aid batteries come in convenient 6-packs and 12-packs.

Beltone hearing aid batteries are manufactured using precision standards that help prevent small variations in size and shape that can bend battery contacts. Plus, they are tested twice—once after manufacturing and again prior to packaging. This ensures your batteries are consistently fresh and properly sized to fit your Beltone hearing aids perfectly.

Buy Hearing Aid Batteries From a Hearing Center

You can also purchase Beltone hearing aid batteries from a local Beltone Hearing Care Center in your area.