“When I started seeing patients, disposable batteries were the only option for hearing aids. Not only were they difficult to handle and expensive, but they tended to turn up in unexpected places: at the bottom of a patient's ear canal, or even in a small child's nose. Fortunately, rechargeable batteries for hearing aids are becoming mainstream today.” - Drew Sutton, MD, board-certified otolaryngologist
Acquiring your first hearing aids can be an important step, as you likely do not yet know your exact comfort preferences and may not have mastered all the potential features of a pair of hearing aids.
A crucial question often arises: how long do hearing aid batteries last? This question requires two answers, as a rechargeable battery has both a service life and a specific electrical capacity that allows it to function. Service life corresponds to the number of times the battery can be fully discharged and then recharged, while capacity corresponds to the battery life obtained on a single discharge cycle.
Here is a detailed overview of how traditional hearing aid batteries work, what sets rechargeable hearing aids apart, battery service life and capacity, as well as best practices for maintenance to get the most out of your devices.
Disposable hearing aid batteries
If you have been using hearing aids for a long time, you are probably familiar with the disposable batteries supplied with a conventional device.
These disposable batteries are zinc-air batteries, which are widely used in hearing aids, car keys, remote controls, and watches. Zinc-air batteries help reduce costs and maintain a constant voltage during discharge, which is highly sought after.
Zinc-air batteries differ from conventional batteries in that they are open to the ambient air and actually use air to trigger the reaction necessary for their operation. While this reduces weight and cost, the zinc-air battery is less robust than a sealed battery. Temperature, humidity, and staying in the device for too long can significantly reduce its service life.
How long do they last?
Zinc-air batteries last about three to four weeks before needing replacement, but this varies depending on the exact usage and the environment in which they are placed. For example, in a hot and humid climate, their service life can be much shorter.
Beyond the environment, the level of amplification required for your hearing also affects battery life. The higher the amplification, the shorter the battery life; the lower it is, the longer the battery life.
Rechargeable hearing aid batteries
Rechargeable hearing aid batteries are very different from those used in a conventional device. In general, hearing aids with integrated rechargeable batteries are considered more high-end, as these batteries cost more to manufacture and are included in the device.
Rechargeable batteries differ significantly from disposable ones. Rather than being open to the outside, they are most often sealed, which increases their resistance to environmental factors such as humidity. This increased robustness makes them the ideal choice for designing waterproof or water-resistant devices.
The chemical composition also differs greatly. Several technologies are rechargeable, but one of the most common is the lithium-ion battery. This is the type of battery used in most smartphones and electric vehicles.
From a usage perspective, lithium-ion is one of the best options on the market. Other rechargeable batteries suffer from low capacity, whereas lithium-ion offers the right balance between capacity and longevity.
What is the capacity?
One of the most striking differences is that disposable batteries generally offer higher capacity, which means they last longer as they discharge. Rechargeable batteries are at a disadvantage here, but they more than make up for it with their ability to be recharged.
Rechargeable hearing aids offer about 24 hours of battery life on a full charge. With age, this capacity decreases, but 24 hours is more than enough to cover a normal day: after all, one rarely wears their hearing aids while sleeping.
What is the service life?
The advantage of rechargeable batteries is that they last much longer than disposable batteries because they can be recharged. They do, however, have a limit. Many manufacturers express a battery's service life in number of charge cycles.
Charge cycles correspond to the number of times the battery can be charged and then discharged before a noticeable drop in capacity is observed.
If you have kept a smartphone for a long time, you may have noticed that, over time, it holds a charge less well. Age certainly plays a role, but it is primarily the high number of charge cycles the battery has undergone that explains this loss of capacity.
The service life of rechargeable hearing aids varies according to several factors: storage conditions, the frequency with which the batteries are fully discharged, and many others.
It is generally safe to say that a good pair of rechargeable hearing aids like the EV3 will last you several years, which is a lot in the world of technology: by then, a better and more advanced product will very likely be available.
How to maintain your hearing aids
Hearing aids play an important role in your daily life since you need them to hear well. Hearing is one of your five fundamental senses, and your hearing aids allow you to hear correctly. Taking care of them means ensuring you have reliable and well-maintained equipment that will last for years.
Here is an overview of ways to get the most out of your hearing aids.
Charging
Lithium-ion batteries have a limited service life; it is therefore important to spare them by adopting good charging practices. Generally speaking, batteries do not like to be discharged until they turn off completely. You should therefore avoid draining them entirely as much as possible.
Batteries generally prefer to stay within a charge range of 20 to 80 percent. This is the ideal zone for their longevity and performance.
With the CLARIA range of rechargeable hearing aids, you simply need to charge them before going to bed to keep them in a healthy charge range and offer the best possible longevity to the integrated batteries.
Storage
Another point of vigilance concerns how and where you store your hearing aids when they are not in use. As a general rule, avoid very humid places, which can cause premature wear of certain components of the device.
Also pay attention to temperature: generally speaking, electronics do not handle extremes well. Heat can impair battery life, while cold reduces capacity. Strive to keep your hearing aids in a temperate environment, such as your home, when you are not wearing them.
Cleaning
Cleaning your hearing aids regularly is another way to get the most out of them. When a device has been in your ear all day, it is not hard to imagine the amount of earwax, dust, and residue that settles on the surface of the hearing aid or the earpiece.
Depending on the manufacturer, cleaning instructions may differ due to the materials used in the device. The CLARIA EV1 and EV3 both come with a kit of cleaning tools and instructions that allow you to maintain your hearing aids regularly and extend their service life as much as possible.
The protection warranty
Finally, the last way to get the most value out of your hearing aid purchase is to take out a protection warranty. With this type of warranty, your investment is protected in the event of breakage, loss, or water damage. If one of these cases occurs, the CLARIA protection warranty allows you to buy a brand-new pair for only $19.
Conclusion
In summary, the longevity of hearing aid batteries depends a lot on their type and how they have been maintained. Disposable batteries in some hearing aids may only last a few weeks, while a well-maintained rechargeable battery can last for years.
Better understanding what to expect from hearing aid batteries makes you a better-informed consumer and allows you to choose the option best suited to your needs.
Sources:
Molecular Expressions: Electricity and Magnetism: Zinc-Air Battery | FSU
Strategies to limit degradation and maximize Li-ion battery service lifetime - Critical review and guidance for stakeholders | Journal of Energy Storage
On battery materials and methods | ScienceDirect
