Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to the question “What size of battery will my hearing aid need?” because hearing aid types and the batteries they operate on common in many varieties. If you already have a hearing aid, review the device’s owners manual or the hearing care professionals who fit it for you to determine the right battery size and type. If you don’t wear a hearing aid yet and are still trying to decide which model and type is right for you, do a little research. The kind of batteries that a hearing aid takes can greatly impact the lifetime price of the device because of variations in price and battery life.
In order to make life easier for customers, hearing aid manufacturers and those who make the batteries for them have established a standardized system of color coding to make them easier to find. The types and sizes are all standard across manufacturers, so the color on the package is a dependable indication of the battery size and type.
The most common varieties are:
Size 312 / Brown – A color code of brown signifies a Size 312 battery, typically used in In-The-Ear (ITE) and In-The-Canal (ITC) models of hearing aids; because of their smaller size they have a battery life of 175 hours.
Size 675 / Blue – Size 675 has the color code of blue, and is commonly used in Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aids and in certain cochlear implants; these batteries are rather large and have the benefit of a long charge, lasting up to 300 hours.
Size 10 / Yellow –
These are the most popular sizes of hearing aid batteries, although there are hearing aids that require alternative ones. If yours need one of these alternate types, most merchants that provide batteries can custom order them for you.
Before stocking up on hearing aid batteries, remember to read the manual that came with your unit to be sure it does not run on rechargeable batteries; if it does, you need disposable ones only for emergencies. To keep your batteries fresh and fully charged after you buy them, always store them inside at room temperature and in their original, unopened packages.