It is difficult to offer a definitive answer to the question “What size of hearing aid battery do I purchase?” because hearing aid models and designs are so different, and so are the batteries used to operate them. The simplest situation to deal with is if you already use a hearing aid; if that’s the case, read the owner’s manual that came with it or call the professionals who fit it for you to identify the correct battery type. In the event that you are still shopping for a hearing aid and attempting to choose which style is right for you, you may wish to do some comparison shopping to help you in your selection. Hearing aid batteries vary widely in price, and in the life of the battery, so your choice of hearing aid will affect the amount of money you spend in the long run using it.
To make life simpler for buyers, hearing aid makers and the companies who manufacture the batteries for them have developed a standardized color coding system to make the right size easier to locate. Hearing aid batteries of the same type and size will always have the same color code on their packages, irrespective of who made them.
The primary battery types you will encounter are:
The color brown always means Size 312 batteries. Size 312 batteries are on the smaller end of the spectrum and normally maintain a charge for around 175 hours. These batteries are common in In-The-Ear (ITE) and In-The-Canal (ITC) hearing aids.
The color orange always means Size 13 batteries. These batteries are intermediate in size and hold a charge for approximately 240 hours. Size 13 batteries are common in In-the-Ear (ITE) and Behind-the-Ear (BTE) hearing aids.
Size 10 batteries have a color code of yellow, and are the most common these days, being used in a large number of Completely-In-Canal (CIC) and In-The-Canal (ITC) models; due to their smaller size, they have an approximated battery life of 80 hours.
The color blue corresponds to Size 675 batteries. These batteries are comparatively large and will hold a long charge – roughly three hundred hours. Size 675 hearing aid batteries are common in larger Behind-the-Ear (BTE) hearing aids and in cochlear implants.
These are the most widespread types and sizes of hearing aid batteries, but there are hearing aids that call for alternative ones. If your device requires one of these alternate types, most stores that provide batteries can obtain them for you.
Be sure to read your owner’s manual carefully before buying large quantities of hearing aid batteries. If your unit uses rechargeable batteries, you will only need throw away ones for emergencies. To keep your batteries fully charged after you buy them, always store them inside at room temperature and in their original, unopened packages.