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Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to the question “Which kind of hearing aid battery do I buy?” because hearing aid models and the batteries they operate on common in many varieties. If you already own a hearing aid, check the device’s owners manual or the hearing care professionals who sold it to you to verify the proper battery type and size. If you don’t own a hearing aid yet and are trying to choose which model and type is right for you, do a little research. The reason behind this is that hearing aid batteries vary in price and in battery lifespan, and so an estimate of how many of them you’ll need over time may influence your choice of which hearing aid to buy.
The manufacturers of hearing aids and hearing aid batteries have made things simpler for you by coming up with a standardized color coding system, to help make finding the correct size easier. Batteries of the same size and type will always have the same color code on their packages, irrespective of which company produced them.
Most likely your hearing aid will utilize one of these four varieties:
Size 675 / Blue – A color code of blue always corresponds to Size 675 batteries, which are often found in larger Behind-The-Ear (BTE) style hearing aids or in cochlear implants; the 675 batteries have an average life of about 300 hours.
Size 13 / Orange – The color orange corresponds to Size 13 batteries. Size 13 batteries are intermediate in size and hold a charge for about 240 hours. Size 13 batteries are common in Behind-the-Ear (BTE) and In-the-Ear (ITE) hearing aids.
Size 10 / Yellow – Hearing aid batteries that have a yellow color code are Size 10, and can be the easiest to find because they are widely used in In-The-Canal (ITC) and Completely-In-Canal (CIC) types of hearing aids; their battery lifespan is shorter, approximately 80 hours.
Size 312 / Brown – Size 312 batteries have a brown color code, and are usually used in In-The-Ear (ITE) and In-The-Canal (ITC) hearing aids; they have a normal battery life of approximately 175 hours.
These are the most common types and sizes of hearing aid batteries, although there are hearing aids that require different ones. Purchasing alternate sizes can be a bit harder since many retailers do not stock or advertise them, however if you inquire they can be ordered for you.
Prior to stocking up on batteries, make sure to read the owner’s manual that came with your unit to be sure it doesn’t run on rechargeable batteries; if it does, you need disposable ones only for emergencies. Also be aware that hearing aid batteries lose their full charge over time. You’ll get the best battery life by buying batteries that are new and storing them in the sealed original package in a cool location until you need to use them.
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