How to Choose a Hearing Aid Battery
Friday, November 30th, 2007If you need to buy a hearing aid battery then you are soon going to find out that there are many different types of batteries on the market. This is similar to the fact that there are many different types of hearing aids on the market. Not all hearing aid batteries are the same. One hearing aid battery may last much longer than an equally priced battery. So anyone buying a battery needs to pay attention to how long the battery lasts.
It can sometimes be tough to know which hearing aid battery goes with which hearing aid. Luckily most of the batteries are color coded. For example, a blue battery is usually C size 675, yellow means C size 10, orange means C size 13, and brown means C size 312. These colors are found on a tab on the back of the batteries.
Once you determine which type of hearing aid battery you need, the next thing you need to do is look at how long the battery is supposed to last. Generally hearing aid batteries should last from a couple weeks to a few weeks. Of course this is dependent on what type of hearing aid you have and exactly what your hearing aid does.
Of all the types of hearing aids, BTE or Behind the Ear microphones, are probably the best to use. This is because Behind the Ear microphones allow the user to know where the sound is coming from. Just like we have two ears so we know where a sound originates, BTE microphones allows the hearing aid user to know where the sound is coming from. Of course, a hearing aid like this would more quickly drain a hearing aid battery.
The amplifier in a hearing aid can also affect the life of a hearing aid battery. The amplifier takes the sound from the microphone (where the sound is captured) and sends it to the speaker (where the sound is projected). Amplifiers are classified in one of three classes - Class A, Class B, and Class D. These classes are determined by how much power they use, the gain, and output ability.
The speaker in a hearing aid transmits the sound to the person wearing the hearing aid. The exact type of speaker and what it does affects the life of a hearing aid battery. One of the best types of speakers to use fits right in the person’s ears and is barely visible. These types of speakers are called RITE (Receiver In The Ear). Not only are the RITE speakers difficult to spot, they also produce excellent sound. RITE speakers rarely use more of the battery’s power than other types of speakers.
People often overlook the drain on a hearing aid battery when they decide the type of hearing aid they want to buy. While the drain on the battery shouldn’t be the only consideration, it should be thought about. Having to constantly buy a hearing aid battery can get very expensive.
Since a hearing aid battery can vary in life expectancy and price, the battery should be chosen carefully. People who use a hearing aid should continue to shop around and try different hearing aids until they find a hearing aid battery that lasts long enough and is also a reasonable price.