Wouldn’t it be nice if all devices, no matter what they were — remotes, smoke detectors, kids’ toys — all used the same type of batteries? Unfortunately, that’s not possible, as different devices need different amounts of energy from batteries to work correctly. The same rings true for hearing aids. Although hearing aid batteries are not universal, there are some standards in place to make buying them easier.
Types of Hearing Aid Batteries
All major hearing aids use 1 of 4 possible battery sizes which are universally color coded to make them easy to identify. There is a smaller battery on the market, size 5, but it is rarely used. You can think of these batteries as small high-performance computers because that’s how they work. The 4 different possible battery sizes are available in button cell batteries, which are small, flat, round, and resemble a button.
Zinc-air-system batteries are the most popular type of hearing aid battery because they have a long battery life. These types of batteries are disposable and usually last 5-7 days. They are activated once you remove the sticker from the battery and let it sit for one minute — the battery must be exposed to oxygen prior to inserting it into your hearing aid.
Rechargeable hearing aid batteries are becoming more popular. These batteries are lithium-ion batteries much like the ones that power your smartphone or laptop. They last approximately 30 hours before needing to be recharged, and recharging is as simple as plugging them into the charger, again, similar to charging your phone.
Sizes of Hearing Aid Batteries
The size of the battery in the hearing aid is directly related to the size and power of the hearing aid it is being used in. Larger batteries are needed for larger hearing aids, and larger batteries are also needed in hearing aids for people who have extensive hearing loss. The four most common hearing aid battery sizes are all smaller than the diameter of a dime:
- Size 10 – 5.8 mm wide by 3.6 mm high
- Size 312 – 7.9 mm wide by 3.6 mm high
- Size 13 – 7.9 mm wide by 5.4 mm high
- Size 675 – 11.6 mm wide by 5.4 mm high
Each size of hearing aid has its own color attached to it–this color is universal for all hearing aid batteries, so all you need to remember is the color of the battery you use when it’s time to purchase new batteries. The four “colors” of batteries are:
- Size 10 batteries – yellow
- Size 312 batteries – brown
- Size 13 batteries – orange
- Size 675 batteries – blue
Do Different Brands of Batteries Work in All Hearing Aids?
The short answer is “yes,” but there are some things to consider. The sizes and colors associated with each battery size are standardized, so there is no difference in the size of the hearing aid battery by brand. However, there may be differences in the quality of the battery; small variations in size may mean that the battery works, but not as well as you’d like it to. You may find that one brand works better than another, and this may have something to do with where you purchase your batteries.
Purchasing batteries for your hearing aids is a process you’ll repeat many times. You want to make sure you’re purchasing batteries that are fresh and haven’t been on the shelf for a long time. When you purchase batteries from a grocery store or big-box store, the batteries may have been sitting idle for a while.
Beltone Tristate offers every hearing aid battery size available on the market, including the rarely used size 5 (red) battery. Beltone hearing aid batteries are manufactured using precision standards that help prevent small variations in size and shape that can bend battery contacts. Plus, they are tested twice — once after manufacturing and again prior to packaging. This ensures your batteries are consistently fresh and properly sized to fit your Beltone hearing aids perfectly.
Beltone Hearing Aid Batteries
Beltone was founded nearly 80 years ago with the objective of helping people hear and providing the best service possible. Our batteries are tested, twice, to ensure that when you purchase them from us, they work. We strive to be a leader in the hearing aid community and invest in developing the best possible products for our customers.
Visit our online store to purchase your hearing aid batteries, and you can be confident that the batteries you purchase from us will be of the highest quality.
Interested in learning more about Beltone Tristate, our batteries, and other products? Visit our website, or schedule your free hearing test today!