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- How long do hearing aid batteries typically last?
A standard hearing aid battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 22 days, depending on the hearing aid power, battery size, quality, 'freshness' and the average amount of hearing aid use per day. Fresh battery life is specified in units called milliampere / hours.
- What is hearing aid power?
Hearing aids are identified in terms of gain, which could be described as the average amount of sound added to the voices and sounds you encounter. Another critical variable is Maximum Power Output (MPO). This could be considered the maximum amount of sound the hearing aid could produce under any given sound environment. Gain is like engine 'horsepower' and Maximum Power Output is like the maximum speed possible. The greater the loss of hearing acuity, the greater the need for more gain and MPO
- How does hearing aid power affect battery life?
As Gain and Maximum Power Output increase, the hearing aid will require batteries with greater milliampere life. This is achieved either by increasing the size of the battery or by changing smaller batteries more frequently.
- What are the most popular battery sizes?
Contemporary hearing aids use zinc-air batteries in sizes A10, A312 and A13. Because air is used in the battery chemistry, zinc air batteries have paper seals on the flat surface back to prevent air from entering one or more pinholes, thereby activating the battery. These tags are color-coded as follows: smallest size = A10 / yellow tag; medium size = A312 / brown tag and large size = A13 or orange tag. (There is an infrequently used larger size = A675 / blue tag for older over-the-ear (OTE) hearing aids.) Smaller batteries permit smaller sized hearing aids but require more frequent battery changes.
- How do I know when to change the battery?
Contemporary hearing aids, less than five years old, provide an audible indication that the battery should be replaced within fifteen minutes. Older instuments provide a prolonged "beep" warning. New aids actually say "Battery" as a fifteen minute warning with a prolonged "beep" on actual battery expiration. GCHS also includes a complimentary self-powered hearing aid battery tester with each new hearing instrument. The tester may show some residual life, albeit insufficient for consistent hearing aid operation, on an expired battery.
- What are some examples of expected battery life?
An A10 CIC, IIC or RIC aid of mild-to-moderate gain will provide a week of 7 hours/day use or 3-4 days of 12-14 hours/day use. An A312 RIC, CIC or ITE aid will have two weeks of of 7 hours/day use or one week of 12-14 hours/day use. An A13 CE or BTE of higher gain can anticipate three weeks of of 7 hours/day use or 1 1/2 weeks of 12-14 hours/day use. These estimates assume that the battery compartment / "door" is opened when the aid is not in use.
- What is the best way to obtain replacement batteries?
Through Garden City Hearing Services, Dr. Sullivan provides a private-labeled Ray-O-Vac premium battery service exclusively for his patients. Simply telephone 516-294-0127 or 516 294-0253 any time of day or evening. State your name, the size or tag color (yellow, brown, orange) of the batteries desired and the number of packs. They will be mailed to you that day or the next business day.
We also provide four packs of batteries for the price of two when you come in for your annual hearing test / hearing aid checkup visit. There is no charge for batteries to our patients who are clergy and our centenarians.
- What about "drugstore" batteries?
Our batteries are comparably priced to chain drugstores However, our batteries are ordered in bulk every month from the Ray-O-Vac distributor assuring freshness, predictable longevity of use and shelf life.
- Do rechargeable hearing aids make sense?
In a word, no! The entire aid must be taken out of service for the recharge period and cannot be used.
- What about batteries for my Surflink Remotee control?
The Surflink wireless remote controls use a non-replaceable lithium-ion battery with a FIVE YEAR life.
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