Hearing aid battery safety

Hearing aids are powered either by rechargeable batteries or small, disposable "button" batteries. Although rechargeable hearing aids are quickly becoming the more popular battery option, many people still use hearing aids with disposable batteries.

These batteries keep hearing aids working at their optimum performance, but did you know they can cause serious injury or death if they’re not handled properly?

Batteries contain mercury, silver, lithium and other heavy metals as their main component. When these chemicals are ingested and come in contact with body fluids, they create an electrical current which can burn through tissue and seriously damage internal organs in as little as two hours’ time. When you handle a leaking battery, it can cause serious burns immediately.

This is true no matter if the batteries are fully charged or no longer power your hearing aids.

My child swallowed a button battery. What do I do?

According to the National Capital Poison Control Center, more than 3,500 Americans of all ages swallow button batteries every year. If this happens to a person or pet in your home, seek medical attention immediately.

This is a medical emergency and you should not attempt first aid at home. If the child is older than one year, give them about two teaspoons of honey every 10 minutes until they are in the ER. Honey can help slow the development of an internal battery burn injury, but it will not stop it from occurring.

Do not delay medical care. If ingested, button batteries can cause serious internal burns, bleeding and injuries. Numerous children have either been severely injured or died from ingestion.

For babies (under one year), they need an x-ray immediately to locate the battery. If the battery is in the esophagus, it must be removed immediately. Serious injury including death is possible.

In older children, follow your doctors' guidance. They will most likely need the battery removed using an endoscopy procedure.

If you're not sure if your child has ingested a button battery, signs to look out for include wheezing, drooling, vomiting, chest discomfort, difficulty swallowing and gagging when eating or drinking.

Damage can also occur if a child puts the battery in their nose or ear.

Storing your disposable hearing aid batteries safely

Now that you know, you can see why it’s important to keep your hearing aid batteries safe from little hands or inquisitive pets. It’s important to find a safe place to store your batteries. Here are some dos and don’ts:

• DO invest in a container with a snap-tight lid. Store it on a shelf (the higher the better – as long as you can reach it safely) in a closet which has a door you keep shut.
• DO store your batteries at room temperature. Heat shortens battery life and, contrary to popular opinion, battery life is not extended by storing them in the refrigeration.
• DON’T store batteries next to metal objects, such as coins and keys. These are common items found in pant pockets and purses.
• DON’T store your batteries with your medications. Many pills are the same size and shape as hearing aid batteries. Many cases of accidental battery poisoning have occurred from people who mistakenly ingested a hearing aid battery while taking their daily medications.
• DO be careful with all button batteries in your home, not just the ones in your hearing aids. Button batteries are also commonly used in remote controls, toys, thermometers, tealight candles, key fobs and even light-up shoes.

How to properly discard your batteries

When you change your hearing aid batteries, be sure to place them in a child- and pet-proof container immediately until you can take them to a recycling center. Do not leave them on a counter or throw them in the trash can.

Batteries are recyclable

Because of the valuable metals these batteries contain, they’re extremely recyclable. Those same contents make them extremely hazardous if you simply throw them in the trash. Over time, the batteries can leak these hazardous chemicals and contaminate the environment. Recycling centers extract the dangerous chemicals and discard the remaining contents, which are safe for landfills.

In this day and age, it’s likely there are more than a few battery recycling collection centers in your community. If you aren’t already aware of their location, check with your hearing center.  

Acid burn

Sometimes, batteries can leak acid that can burn your skin. If you receive an acid burn when handling your hearing aid batteries:

• Use a wet cloth to wipe any area on the hands, face or feet,
• Remove any clothing or jewelry which may have come in contact with the battery acid so it doesn’t burn any other areas,
• Run cool water over the affected area for 15 minutes,
• Wrap the affected area with a clean piece of gauze or cotton towel and call your doctor if your skin continues to discolor.