Guide to Hearing Aid Batteries

To keep your hearing aid functioning, you’ll need hearing aid batteries. These come in all styles, shapes and sizes. The following guide can help you to better understand which batteries you need, as well as how you can maintain them.

Types of hearing aid batteries

There are several different types of batteries available for hearing aids. These may be important to know about when replacing your batteries.

Sizes

The most distinguishing feature between batteries is the size. There are five sizes on the market, and each is color-coded, making it easier to determine which is which:

• Size 10 (yellow) – for RITE and CIC hearing aids
• Size 312 (brown) – for BTE (Behind The Ear), RITE and ITC (In The Canal) hearing aids
• Size 13 (orange) – for BTE and ITE (In The Ear) hearing aids
• Size 675 (blue) – for BTE hearing aids

Size 312 is used in many styles and is one of the most common.

A new hearing aid will generally come with a few free batteries. The type of battery needed for your hearing aid will usually be promptly indicated on the device. If you have any concerns, you can always ask an audiologist.

Battery life

Each battery size lasts for a different length of time. Smaller battery sizes tend to last for a shorter amount of time. Here are all the average battery lives for each of the main sizes:

• Size 10: Three to seven days
• Size 312: Three to 10 days
• Size 13: Six to 14 days
• Size 675: Nine to 20 days

Various factors can affect the life of a battery such as the regularity of usage, the level of hearing aid required and the environment. Consequently, someone with mild hearing loss that only wears their hearing aid in certain situations may get more usage out of a battery than someone with severe hearing loss that regularly wears their device.

Rechargeable batteries exist on the market for specific hearing aid brands, although most devices tend to use disposable batteries. Older rechargeable batteries may eventually start to lose charge more quickly.

Brand

There are different brands of battery on the market – the most popular being Rayovac and Energizer. The sizes and color schemes of each of hearing aid batteries are standardized, so there is no difference between each brand. This means that you can use any brand on any hearing aid, so long as it’s the right size.

Looking after your hearing aid batteries

Looking after your hearing aid batteries will help to extend the life of them. Here are a few rules for looking after your batteries to help you get the most out of them:

• Don’t remove the sticker until you are ready to use the battery. Most modern hearing aid batteries use zinc-air technology and are activated as soon as this sticker is taken off.
• Turn off your hearing aid when not in use – this will conserve the battery life. It’s worth also opening the battery door compartment at night to let moisture escape, which could be draining your battery.
• Always store batteries at room temperature. Do not keep them in the fridge – some people think that this preserves them, but it often has the opposite effect. Try to keep your batteries in a non-humid environment (if your bathroom often gets steamy, this may not be the best place to store them).
• If you can, try not to carry around hearing aid batteries in your pocket, in a purse or a backpack. Many batteries can short-circuit the moment that they come in contact with metal objects such as keys and coins.

Where to buy hearing aid batteries?

Hearing aid batteries are readily available from many retailers. Hearing aid stores, chemists, supermarkets and electronic stores are just a few places that may sell batteries. If you are in doubt as to where to go locally, you may be able to ask an audiologist.

Need more information on hearing aid batteries? At Gavin Audiology, we’re always happy to help answer your queries – feel free to contact us at (914) 610-3440.