Are you considering purchasing new batteries for your hearing aids? Here are some of the things that you should know:
1. The size of the battery that you should buy should be determined first. The most common sizes of batteries for hearing aids are 10, 13, 312 and 675. Only recently there is a new size 5, which is now the smallest size of the battery, and this is used for the newer models of hearing aids that are completely placed inside the canal. In order to identify the sizes much better, a color coding scheme is made and is placed on the zinc tabs and the packaging. These are the color codes:
a. Red – size 5 b. Yellow – size 10 c. Brown – size 312 d. Orange – size 13 e. Blue- size 675
These manufacturers also place letters after the battery size to indicate their factory reorder number. So, 13A, or R19ZA are size 13 batteries still.
2. The life of the batteries for hearing aids depends on the type of amplification of your hearing aid. It also depends on how long you wear them. Before you get one, you should ask your hearing care professional to tell you the expected life span of each battery.
3. Also, you have to make sure that the battery is stored in good condition. This means room temperature, not too hot, or not too cold, as this will shorten the life of your battery. Also, keep your unused batteries in a battery holder or in its packaging, since it is not advisable for it to be carried loose as it can charge, leak or even rupture. A person can throw fully discharged batteries into the regular thrash can, but be sure that it is out of reach of children.
4. Do not remove the tab on the battery unless you will be using it. A zinc battery uses ambient air as its power source. The tab will ensure the freshness of the battery when you will use it. But, covering the battery with the tab again has no effect on it life.
5. Good ventilation is needed for batteries for hearing aids when kept at night. Also, be sure to keep a spare battery in case your original battery runs low or is lost.
6. New breakthroughs in hearing aid technology have paved the way to smaller, more powerful batteries for hearing aids. For every need and application, there is a suitable battery for you. The most popular battery at the present is the zinc air battery, since this only uses outside air for it to work.
7. If you have difficulty hearing in noisy places, or you notice your battery runs out shorter than expected, high-power zinc batteries are perfect for this since they are designed for high-drain applications.