The question of precisely how long hearing aid batteries can be expected to last is not as easy to respond to as it seems, because battery life depends on a large number of factors. Just how long a battery lasts depends on who manufactured the battery, and may even vary between models from the exact same manufacturer. The way you use your hearing aid will also impact battery life; the more hours each day yours is switched on, the more often you will consume batteries.

The hearing aid batteries themselves are a major factor. Batteries of the same size from different manufacturers will have distinct lives. And there will be variation within one battery manufacturer if they offer premium or extended-life lines. Hearing aid battery life also hinges on battery type; for example some types are only discharging power when they are in a hearing aid that is on, and other varieties (such as, zinc-air batteries) start burning stored energy as soon as you take away the adhesive strip on the bottom of the battery and they are in contact with oxygen, whether the hearing aid is on or not.

If consider new hearing aids, it’s advisable to do some research on the different models and the types of hearing aid batteries they use to help you determine the best choice for your lifestyle. Similarly, a little time invested in research may help you find superior batteries for your existing hearing aids. Luckily, when shopping for hearing aid batteries, the companies that manufacturer them have made things a little easier for you by standardizing their sizes and color-coding each size; the exact same color codes are used by all manufacturers. See the approximated battery life below to get a general idea of how long hearing aid batteries of each size can be expected to last:

• #10 – Yellow tag – 80 hours
• #13 – Orange tag – 240 hours
• #312 – Brown tag – 175 hours
• #675 – Blue tag – 300 hours

For the longest battery life, remember to turn your hearing aid off when you are not using it. To ensure the longest shelf life for batteries you’ve purchased but haven’t used yet, store them indoors, at room temperature, and in their original, unopened packaging.