A mere five minutes may give you an extra two to seven days of hearing aid battery use. That’s based on a study conducted by a student from Minnesota. With the help of his audiologist, hearing aid user Ethan Manuell developed a study to see if waiting a few more minutes to insert hearing aid batteries after activation would increase their lifespan. They discovered that waiting 5 minutes can increase the life span by up to 80%.
How Do Disposable Hearing Aid Batteries Work?
Replaceable hearing aid batteries contain zinc that requires oxygen to activate their charging capabilities and power your devices. The tiny holes in the surface of each battery allow air to flow through the packaging and generate electrical energy. Each unit comes in air-tight packaging to prevent activation until a tab or sticker is removed to expose the holes. They begin “running” as soon as oxygen touches the zinc and are dead once it runs out.
What is the 5-Minute Rule?
In the past, it was considered best practice to wait at least one minute after removing the tab before placing batteries in your devices. However, Ethan’s study revealed that waiting just a little bit longer could deliver optimized performance, helping them last longer during use.
The rule is simple: Wait five minutes after removing the protective coating on your disposable batteries before inserting them into your hearing aids.
Doing so allows oxygen to produce a sufficient chemical reaction in the battery to fully activate it.
Why You Should Follow the 5-Minute Rule
You can get more from your hearing aid batteries when you adhere to the 5-minute rule. That reduces the rate of wear, so you don’t have to purchase new ones as often. Inserting a fully charged battery into your devices also allows for better performance, helping your hearing aids run efficiently and consistently.
Tips for Optimizing Hearing Aid Battery Use
- Wash your hands before handling batteries to reduce contamination.
- Store batteries in a dry, room-temperature location. Keeping them in the fridge can expose them to moisture.
- Limit exposure to heat and metal to avoid short-circuiting.
- Regularly clean your device’s battery compartment with a clean, dry cloth to eliminate moisture and prevent corrosion.
- Leave the compartment door open when you’re not wearing your devices to air out the batteries.
- Remove disposable batteries completely if you don’t use your hearing aids for extended periods.
Purchase Hearing Aid Batteries from Hearing Associates
If you need disposable hearing aid batteries, we can get you what you need. Hearing Associates sells size 10, 13, 312 and 675 batteries in packs of eight for $10. You can also buy larger packs at discounted rates. Contact us or visit our main office in Mason City, Iowa, for more information.