Using And Disposing Of Hearing Aid Batteries
Rechargeable hearing aid batteries require specific care during use and disposal. While many people might toss these batteries in the trash after using them, this is seriously advised against
While hearing aid batteries are small, they power an important device that allows people to hear better, stream audio, and drown out tinnitus. Without them, hearing aids fail to work properly, and running out of battery can ruin someones entire day. However, there are ways to lengthen your lithium-ion batteries lifespans by caring for them, and once they are finished, proper disposal is a must.
If youre not sure how to properly care for lithium-ion batteries, or just want to make sure that youre doing so correctly, this guide will help you get the most of your hearing aids.
How Often Should You Replace Hearing Aid Batteries
How often you replace your hearing aid batteries will depend on a number of things like how long you use your hearing aids each day, the type of hearing aids you have, and the type of batteries you use. Have a look at the table below to get an idea of the typical lifespan of hearing aid batteries, as well as some handy tips about how to preserve battery life.
Hearing aid battery prices
Specsavers hearing aid batteries are available in four sizes 10, 312, 13, and 675. Each size comes in a pack of 60, for only £11.99. So far so good. Even better, you can get your batteries delivered right to your door. Just choose your size and well do the rest.
When you buy your hearing aids at Specsavers, youll get four years worth of hearing aid batteries included, as well as other great benefits as part of our hearing aid package.
What Do I Do With Used Hearing Aid Batteries
Youve gone a long time probably a little too long dealing with hearing loss. The inability to hear properly brought you down, and you finally gave in and got a set of hearing aids. The first couple of days has been great! You can hear the TV without turning the volume all the way up, you can have conversations , and overall youre starting to feel like your old self. But with hearing aids come the issue of how to deal with used batteries.
The following is a guide to the lifespan of your hearing aid batteries.
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How To Dispose Of Hearing Aid Batteries Correctly
Proper disposal of hearing batteries depends on two factors. These include whether the battery contains mercury and the type of battery. You can determine whether your battery has mercury or is mercury free by referring to the packaging. However, overall, you need to dispose of old and dead hearing aid batteries correctly to conserve the environment. Herein are a few ways to dispose of dead and old hearing aid batteries correctly.
Switch To Rechargeable Batteries
If you arent using rechargeable batteries for your hearing aids, you should consider these types of batteries instead of disposable ones because they last longer. You can charge rechargeable batteries multiple times before a replacement is needed, so its a more economical option.
When you compare the yearly cost of zinc-air batteries and the average battery life to that of the rechargeable battery, youll see that the latter is much cheaper. Thankfully, rechargeable hearing aid batteries are becoming popular options.
Instead of spending money from time to time on batteries, and having to worry about the best methods of disposing of them, just switch to rechargeable hearing aid batteries, so you can reduce the trouble you go through to find new batteries.
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How Long Do Hearing Aid Batteries Last
It is possible to estimate the shelf life of the different kinds of hearing aids.
But it is impossible to give an exact estimate of how long a hearing aid battery will last due to different factors.
On average, the batteries last between 3 to 22 days with fair use. If you use it for about 16 hours per day, that should be between 5-7 days. However, this depends on the capacity and the type of battery, which is why it is impossible to give an accurate estimate.
Moreover, if you have severe hearing loss, youll need greater amplification so your hearing aid will be very loud, and this will drain the batteries faster than someone with moderate or mild hearing loss.
Hearing aid batteries come in four different sizes and they have a universal color-coding of 10, 13, 312 and 675. To make the sizes easily identifiable, makers of hearing aids use industry-standard color codes on the packaging and tabs. Here is a guideline on the size, color, and battery life
- 10 lasts for 3 7 days
- 312 lasts for 3 10 days
- 13 lasts for 6 14 days
- 675 lasts for 9 20 days
Now that you know how long the batteries will likely last, you will be able to tell how frequently youll need to dispose of them. However, if you opt for a rechargeable battery, you can use that for about 6 months or even more.
Dont Remove The Tab Until Youre Ready To Use The Batteries
Hearing aids take a unique type of battery known as a zinc-air battery. Each one has a plastic tab covering tiny holes on the top of the battery. Immediately after the tab is removed, air enters the holes and stimulates the zinc.
Once this takes place, the battery is active and the power will begin draining . Thats why you should pull the tab only if you plan on using the battery immediately.
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Who Decides Who Needs A Hearing Aid
There is a National Council in Peru for people with disabilities, backed by local municipal programs, that receives requests. Hearing aid candidates are put on a waiting list and tested by an Audiologist to assess their level of hearing loss. The Audiologist will also determine what type of hearing aid will work best for the patient.
Once a hearing aid matching the patients needs is available, theyre called into the clinic and fitted with their new assistive devices.
Why Is My Hearing Aid Not Working Despite Having A New Battery
When do hearing aid batteries leak?
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How Hearing Aids Help You Hear Better
Hearing aids are the best treatment for a person suffering from hearing loss. They make sounds louder so you can enjoy conversations and other activities that require hearing. Using a microphone, amplifier, and speaker all of which are powered by a tiny battery the hearing aid receives sound and turns it into an electrical signal, which is passed on into your ear. Since most hearing loss involved damage to hair cells, which are the sensory cells that allow us to hear, hearing aids target the remaining undamaged hair cells with the amplified sounds.
Lions Club Hearing Aid Recycling Program
Lions Club International is a nonprofit organization that has a hearing aid recycling program. They refurbish the donated hearing aids and give them to those who cant afford them otherwise. Their mission is to be able to provide more access to hearing aids to people around the world.
If you are interested in donating your hearing aids, visit the Lions Club website to find a local club that can provide you with more information on how to donate hearing aids in your area.
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Proper Disposal Of Hearing Aid Batteries
The disposal of hearing aid batteries depends on the type of battery and if it contains mercury. Mercury-free battery options can be disposed of in household waste to determine if your hearing aid batteries are mercury-free, refer to the packaging. If the battery package does not specify the battery is mercury-free, assume it is not safe to toss. These batteries should be recycled responsibility at a recycling center that accepts mercury-containing batteries.
One example of a brand that uses mercury in some of their products is PowerOne. PowerOne sells both mercury-free and mercury-containing batteries. Although they are a German company, they do sell their batteries to US vendors . Should you need a mercury-containing battery, ask your audiologist to obtain it for you.
Hearing aids that are more likely to need mercury-containing batteries include high-power hearing aids, hearing aids that take size 10 batteries, and older digital models.
Pro tips for getting longer battery life:
Ask your audiologist where to drop off your batteries.
Which Hearing Aid Batteries Do You Need
Batteries are standardised within the industry and will fit most hearing aids. So you dont need to worry about having the same brand as your hearing aids, or that you didnt get your hearing aids with us you can still buy your batteries from our online store.
Choosing battery sizes can get confusing, as certain manufacturers will have different names for their products.
But as each manufacturer is required to follow the colour-coded system, youll always know which is the right size for you, no matter what brand you choose.
The four main sizes of hearing aid batteries are identifiable by the colour of their tabs yellow, brown, orange and blue. So when youre buying batteries for your hearing aid, all you need to look out for is your colour.
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How To Dispose Of Hearing Aid Batteries
Hearing aids are a god-send for differently-abled individuals with a hearing impairment. These aids need batteries to operate.
However, the batteries dont last that long and need to be disposed of properly. Even though you might be tempted to throw them in the trash, this is not the right way to dispose of them.
Lets explore how to dispose of hearing aid batteries in detail!
How To Store Hearing Aid Batteries Properly
Rechargeable hearing aid batteries need to be stored properly.
Even though these batteries are small, they enable people to hear better, drown out the tinnitus, and stream audio.
Without functional batteries, your hearing aid will not work properly. This is why you must take extra care of your batteries. You must also store them properly.
This is because storing them improperly can result in a loss of efficacy. It can also damage the battery. You must make sure to store the batteries in a cool, dry place.
However, the location should not be too cold, either. Otherwise, the batteries will be damaged. You must also keep the batteries in their original case.
You need to protect your batteries from direct heat as it can damage them. Avoid exposing the batteries to direct sunlight or even hot temperatures.
Additionally, keep your hearing aid batteries safely out of reach of your children and pets. They might ingest them accidentally.
Store the batteries in your bedside drawers, high cabinets, or in any other secure location. Dont store them in locations that are easy to access, such as your bathroom drawers or medicine cabinets.
These storage areas can also get humid and wet. If the batteries are exposed to humidity, they will get damaged.
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How Is Power One Stored
Store your power one hearing aid batteries at between 10 and 30 degrees Celsius – preferably at room temperature between 20 – 25° C. Heat may shorten the service life, and a damp environment such as that of a fridge is not suitable for storage.
Moreover, never carry individual hearing aid batteries loose in your purse, wallet or handbag – contact with metal objects such as keys or coins can cause the hearing aid battery to short-circuit.
How does power one deliver the best performance?
Contact With Skin Or Metal
Please avoid bringing an activated battery into contact with metallic objects, as this could cause them to drain or short-circuit. Button cells are also sensitive to the natural skin fat of the hands. If this gets onto the cell, it can hinder the current flow. Hence we advise that you only grip the battery by the tab – the long “comfort tab”. The most elegant and practical solution is the power one magnetic pen for comfortable and safe battery insertion and removal.
Recycling and disposal
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Primary Lithium Battery Recycling
Primary lithium batteries are single-use, non-rechargeable cells available in multiple formats, including AA, AAA lithium batteries, and coin batteries, such as those found in watches or computer motherboards with model numbers that begin with the characters CR . The lithium metal contained in these batteries reacts violently with moisture. Lithium cells with a remaining charge left in a landfill are particularly dangerous. Batteries crushed by heavy equipment operating on top can release lithium that could start a fire. Because landfill fires are challenging to completely extinguish, the fire could continue to burn underground for years.
We encourage you to recycle your disposable lithium batteries, or at the very least, fully discharge them to deplete the lithium content prior to disposal.
Practical Battery Recycling Takeaways
The improper disposal of our batteries introduces numerous hazardous compounds to the municipal solid waste stream, including lead, cadmium, cobalt, nickel, alkalines, manganese, and zinc. Recycling batteries keeps these toxic metals out of landfills, and ultimately out of the air and water supply. Proper recycling also saves resources. The recovered plastic and metals can be repurposed to manufacture new batteries and many other products. While some of these compounds may not be as easily recycled as lead, numerous programs facilitate battery collection, sorting, and proper disposal.
As consumers we can:
Here is a general guide to help you identify common batteries by chemistry, markings, and shapes. It is not exhaustive, serving only as a very general overview.
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Can Batteries Be Thrown Out
Batteries contain chemicals and metals that together produce the reaction that generates electrical energy. While recycling of batteries is encouraged to protect the environment, common household alkaline batteries are considered nonhazardous and may be tossed out with ordinary trash.
Button cell batteries used in items like remote car starters and watches contain silver and mercury. They must be recycled. In California, all household batteries are categorized as hazardous waste. Batteries must be brought to a household hazardous waste disposal facility or an authorized recycling facility in the state.
Talk To Your Audiologist
Apart from providing hearing care services, audiologists are an excellent source of information. Talk to the audiologists at Chicago Beltone about proper recycling of hearing aid batteries. Chances are your audiologist is part of an organization that collects used batteries.
As you can see, recycling hearing aid batteries doesn’t have to be a hectic issue. Research on the most accessible route and help us save the environment from toxic waste. Have you been having hearing loss problems? Are you considering hearing aids as an option? Contact us today for all your hearing care needs and services.
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How Do I Dispose Of The Used Power One Battery
Like all other batteries, hearing aid batteries must never be disposed of with the household waste or by incinerating.
Please dispose of the battery in an ecologically responsible manner – at recycling points, e.g. in supermarkets, or through your hearing aid audiologist.
Do several air holes lead to a longer life and better performance of the hearing aid battery?
Recycling Hearing Aid Batteries
If youre one of the estimated 37.5 million Americans with difficulty hearing, you may wear hearing aids. Treating hearing loss with hearing aids can help restore your quality of life. You likely worked closely with your hearing healthcare professional to find the aids that are right for you.
Like many electronic devices, hearing aids run on batteries. There are many different styles of hearing aid batteries. They can be rechargeable or disposable.
If your hearing aid uses disposable batteries, youre going to end up with used-up batteries. You may be tempted to just throw these in the garbage. We advise against doing this.
Instead, why not consider recycling your hearing aid batteries?
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Storing Used Hearing Aid Batteries
Before you can dispose of your hearing aid batteries, it can take time because of the nature of the materials used. So youll have to store them so kids or pets dont come in contact with them since batteries contain silver, mercury, lithium, and other heavy metals.
If these batteries are consumed or come in contact with body fluids, it will create an electrical current, and this can seriously damage internal organs by burning through tissues within an hour to two. Besides, if the battery is leaking, it can cause serious burns whether it is fully charged or dead.
Now that you know how dangerous a battery can be, you must exercise caution when storing it. These are how you can store it
- Put it in a container that has a snap-tight lid. Then put it on a high shelf, or in a closet that can be kept shut from intruders.
- Keep it away from the shelves you put your medications. There are pills that are of the same shape and size as your batteries. There is the possibility you might mistake the battery for a pill and this can lead to ingestion and battery poisoning. Also, the batteries shouldnt be stored next to metal objects like keys, coins, and so on.
- Make sure the batteries are stored at room temperature. Make sure the heat in the room isnt too much and do not refrigerate it as some people suggest you do with batteries.