Preferred Hearing Solutions

To assist with longer battery life, open the battery door and/or remove the batteries from your hearing instruments when not in use (i.e., at night). To prevent leaking batteries, DO NOT leave batteries in hearing instruments which are not being used daily.

ZincAir batteries are the recommended batteries for use in hearing instruments. They use the chemical action of zinc from the battery and oxygen from the air to make electrical energy. A ZincAir battery comes with a tab on the positive (flat) side of the battery to isolate the air (oxygen) from the zinc. When this tab is removed the chemical process begins, and the battery begins discharging. Replacing the tab, after it has been removed, will not stop the chemical process. If the tab becomes old and loses its' sealing capabilities, the battery may be fully or partially discharged even though it hasn't been used.

Replace batteries as recommended by your dispenser at Preferred Hearing Aid Center or when they appear to be dead. A battery checker, available from Preferred Hearing Aid Center, may be used to verify the state of the battery. ALWAYS carry spare batteries for replacement in the event that one or both may die at an inopportune moment. Ask your dispenser for a spare battery carrying case. Use batteries manufactured in the U.S. for better battery life. The batteries are color coded on the battery tabs as well as the packaging according to the following chart:

Insert the battery by holding the hearing aid with one hand and using a fingernail of the other hand to gently pull open the battery door. Make certain that the battery is properly installed in the battery door before attempting to close it. The positive side of the battery (flat side) goes up or in the more open side of the battery door.

If you are having difficulty inserting the batteries from standard battery packs, there are battery packs available which make insertion into the hearing instruments much easier. Call or visit Preferred Hearing Aid Center for more information on these batteries and how to use them.

Check battery contacts to make certain they are clean. If not, visit Preferred Hearing Aid Center to have your hearing instruments professionally cleaned and serviced. Dispose of any leaky batteries at once.

Promptly place spent batteries in a used battery container so as to not mix them up with the new or good batteries. Be environmentally safe, and return your old batteries to Preferred Hearing Aid Center or your local recycling center for proper disposal. Keep them out of the reach of infants, small children and persons with questionable mental capacity. Be careful not to allow hearing aid batteries to be mistaken for pills taken as a medication. NEVER allow hearing aid batteries to be ingested or placed in the mouth, they are easily swallowed. For recommended treatment, if swallowed, call the National Button Battery Hotline collect at 202-625-3333.

Hearing aid battery life is dependent upon several variables. The most important is the current drain of the battery by the instrument, rated in milli-amperes or MA. Some hearing aids use a fixed amount of current when the battery is engaged and others vary depending on the amount of gain (volume) that the instrument is providing. Also, digital hearing instruments use batteries at a slightly higher rate than analog instruments. Of course, the age of the batteries you are using can have an impact on battery life in the instrument. Always try to purchase batteries with a "good until" date on the package. The following are "ballpark" estimates of hearing aid battery life:

• 675 -- 3 weeks to a month or more
• 13 -- 2 weeks to a month
• 312 -- 10 days to 2 weeks
• 10 or 230 -- 5 to 10 days
• 5 -- 4 to 7 days

If you believe that batteries are not lasting as long as they should, consult your dispenser at Preferred Hearing Aid Center to have your hearing aid checked. Reduced battery life may be a symptom of an electronic problem with your hearing aid.

For more information about hearing aid batteries, call Preferred Hearing Solutions @ 951-652-9655, 951-303-8886 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it