It is not easy to offer a single answer to the question “Which hearing aid battery size do I buy?” because hearing aid types and styles vary widely, and so do the batteries used to power them. For anyone that already uses a hearing aid the user manual should clearly indicate which battery size is required. Alternatively you can call the professional that sold you the aid to ask. For anyone shopping for a first hearing aid you’ll be able to discover a lot with some comparison research. Hearing aid batteries vary widely in price, and in the life of the battery, so your selection of hearing aid can impact how much money you spend over time using it.
To make life simpler for consumers, hearing aid manufacturers and those who manufacture the batteries for them have established a standardized system of color coding to make the right size easier to find. Batteries of the same type and size will always share the same color code on their packaging, irrespective of which company manufactured them.
The most common ones are:
Size 675 / Blue – The color blue indicates Size 675 batteries. These batteries are rather large and can hold a longer charge – as much as three hundred hours. Size 675 hearing aid batteries are prevalent in cochlear implants and larger Behind-the-Ear (BTE) hearing aids.
Size 13 / Orange – Size 13 batteries are often found in Behind-the-Ear (BTE) and In-the-Ear (ITE) hearing aids, and they have an average battery life of 240 hours.
Size 10 / Yellow – Size 10 hearing aid batteries are identified with a color code of yellow, and are the most common nowadays, being used in a large number of In-The-Canal (ITC) and Completely-In-Canal (CIC) models; because of their smaller size, they have an estimated battery life of 80 hours.
Size 312 / Brown – Size 312 hearing aid batteries have a brown color code, and are usually used in In-The-Canal (ITC) and In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing aids; they have a normal battery life of around 175 hours.
These four battery types cover most hearing aids, however there are a few exceptions that call for different batteries. Getting alternate sizes can be somewhat harder since many places do not stock or advertise them, but if you ask they can be ordered for you.
Don’t forget to read the manual that comes with your unit before purchasing batteries, because some of the contemporary hearing aids use rechargeable batteries, so disposable batteries are only needed as backups. Also be aware that batteries gradually lose their charge over time. You’ll get the best battery life by buying batteries that are fresh and storing them in the sealed original package in a cool place until you are ready to use them.