Jan 23, 2014

What are the Best Hearing Aid Batteries?

Although there are a few rechargeable hearing aids, the majority of hearing aids today utilize small batteries which must be changed about once every 8 days (on average). How long batteries last in a particular hearing aid depends on a number of factors, for more information on that topic see: “How long do hearing aid batteries last?” Because batteries have to be changed so often, they can add up to a pretty substantial recurring cost during the life of the hearing aids (5-7 years). If you figure that batteries typically last 8 days, and you wear 2 hearing aids, that means you’ll go through around 90 batteries a year. If you are paying retail prices, that’s going to be over $100/year in battery costs alone. So it makes sense to do a bit of research and not only find the right price, but also the best battery- the one that will last the longest.

Surprisingly, there can be quite a large variation in performance from one brand of battery to the next. For this reason, it’s not a bad idea to order sample packs of batteries which have all different brands of batteries, and then you can track each battery and see which one performs the best. This is probably the most cost effective way to test which battery is best, and most large online hearing aid battery suppliers offer a sample pack like this.

Regardless of which brand you choose, here’s a few tips to prolong the battery life:

Keep the batteries in their packaging. If they touch each other or any other metal, their current will drain and they will be worthless.
Store batteries in a room temperature environment that is not subject to moisture.
Put tape on the back of the batteries when not in use.

Photo of a zinc air battery

Zinc-air battery

Regarding that last point, this is a proven trick that many people use which can give you several extra days of battery life. You know that little sticker that you pull off your battery when you’re ready to use it? That sticker essentially “turns on” the battery, and the battery starts draining whether it is powering the hearing aid or not. So when you open your battery door at night to turn the hearing aid “off”, the battery is still draining. Hearing aid batteries are Zinc-air batteries, and once they get oxygen (via the small holes that the sticker covers), they start draining. When you put scotch tape over those holes, it cuts off the battery’s oxygen supply and significant slows and sometimes even stops the drainage altogether.

In short, the best hearing aid battery is the battery which lasts the longest for your aid, (at the lowest price) and that is going to vary from person to person. If your hearing provider doesn’t sell batteries at a reasonable price, Costco currently offers 30 batteries for $9.99, which is an impossibly low price. If that isn’t an option, you might consider eBay or Amazon, you can often find them at wholesale prices of around .27/cell. If you have a bias for or against a certain brand of battery, please post below and let our readers know why!

If you’d like a free phone consultation with a licensed hearing provider, please feel free to call us at 800-731-6794.

Author: Jeff Hall, Hearing Instrument Specialist

14 comments

Posted by Allen Sheppard on 05/12/2016 at 4:12 pm | Reply |

Nowhere else have I read that putting tape on a battery that has been activated does any good at all. Plus what a hassle.
- Posted by Jeff Hall on 05/12/2016 at 4:17 pm | Reply |
  
  Zinc air batteries need air to work. Rob them of the air and they stop working. Hassle, yes, but your batteries will last a bit longer.
Posted by steve on 06/12/2016 at 9:48 am | Reply |

I’ve been getting my hearing aid batteries from Costco for three years they worked great and gave up to a day and a half of warning before shutting off. they have changed suppliers and the new one don’t last as long and only give 10-15 mins. warning before shutting down.
- Posted by Steve L on 06/26/2016 at 12:20 pm | Reply |
  
  From another Steve. Thanks for your post. I too have noticed the shortened life from the Costco batteries I purchased a couple months ago. I was (and still am) hoping it was just the particular “batch” I purchased and not a permanent change such as supplier just to keep the costs down. Poor product/performance does not justify meeting some form of financial metrics. I’m on-line today focusing on batteries to educate myself and come up with an alternate plan if indeed the Costco batteries will permanently be lessor than they have been historically. Too bad if true.
Posted by Stan M on 06/27/2016 at 11:06 am | Reply |

A comment on both points above. I have the original Starkey Halos and am now using #13 Kirkland “Costco” batteries. I haven’t noticed any decrease in service. They were proving the same service that I had received from the Rayovac batteries initially provided by TruHearing until I increased their service as noted below.

The Rayovacs were good for about 8 days as are the Kirklands. I always open my Halos up at night and don’t do much streaming during the day. After I saw the tip about taping at night, I started saving those little orange tabs on a piece of paper (not always possible). When I open them up at night, I put a tab back on the battery. My Kirklands’ service consistently went from 8 to 10 days by doing that. Since I am opening them up anyway, I don’t find it a big deal to put the tab back on at night and take it off in the morning.

That increase may not be a big deal but it is two extra days service or maybe a couple of batteries less each month.
- Posted by TNflash on 01/07/2018 at 11:27 pm | Reply |
  
  When you pull the tab off, be sure to not touch the sticky surface and only stick it to clean glass or release paper. Why? Your fingers have oil and dead skin cells that block the adhesive. The same is true for sticking the tab to plain paper, card board or any other surface made with fibers. The microscopic fibers will pull loose with the tab when the tab is removed. “The fibers, skin cells, oil and any other trash adhering to the tab will keep the tab from completely sealing the surface of the battery when it is reattached. If the surface is not completely sealed, more oxygen will leak into the battery to feed the chemical reaction and shortening the life of the battery.
Posted by Alice S. on 07/16/2016 at 2:09 pm | Reply |

I have been using Walgreen’s batteries but I got a 16 pack and when I checked them with my battery tester, not a single one was charged even though they still supposedly had a year left. I took them back today to exchange them for another 16 pack. when I tested them the same thing – not one had power, or less than 50%. Is there any brand that reliable works?
- Posted by mageem@aol.com on 08/12/2016 at 8:20 am | Reply |
  
  What you are stating may be true. However the power to the battery is not activated until you remove the seal to allow air to activate the zind.
Posted by Cris J. on 09/27/2016 at 8:40 am | Reply |

I’m a little late to this conversation, but I’m a real fan of Renata batteries. They aren’t available EVERYWHERE, but there are a few sources out there. I get my batteries from HearSource at a very fair price. I’ve never opened a Renata blister pack to dead batteries, in all the years I have used them.
Posted by Chris Crawford on 09/29/2016 at 3:33 pm | Reply |

Energizers purchased at Walgreens were horrible. Over half the batteries lasted less than 30 minutes. Contacted Energizer about the problem. They said they would replace them if we provided proof of purchase and the original receipt from Walgreens. Who the hell keeps their receipt from Walgreens? Just their way of getting out of paying for defective batteries.
Posted by J. Pirate on 01/14/2017 at 4:19 am | Reply |

When my Phonak Exalia hearing aids start to beep, I pull the tab on a new battery. Even though I’m streaming from my TV, the batteries will last for about 4 more hours. By that time the new battery’s voltage will increase from just under 1.39v to about 1.430v in that time. Thus, adding about 4 hours or so of usage per battery. These batteries are size 13s. I’m using a voltmeter to measure the battery strength.
Posted by Chana-Rochel Eller on 06/03/2017 at 12:56 pm | Reply |

My last batch of about 180 Duracell 312 batteries (expiry date 2019) contained a quarter to a third non-working batteries in each plastic case of 8 , and in the last plastic package of 8 were were exactly 2 working batteries. I need to know the most dependable brand, leaving out Duracell. Is there some kind of online rating system, according to brand, available? Thank you.
- Posted by TNflash on 01/07/2018 at 11:30 pm | Reply |
  
  I agree. Reliability is more important than marginal longevity differences.
Posted by martin on 02/14/2018 at 11:18 am | Reply |

My favourite battery brand has to be StarKey original batteries. They work brilliant, and are something of the very longest lasting of them all. Just make sure they are nice and fresh (have a good expiry date) Rayovac is OK, but no more than that. They does work, just not very long. Widex is another brand I’ve tried. They do work all right, but they are not working that long, and they have a tendency to give horrible reduced volume their last day of effect.
Siemens batteries are nothing special neither.