All hearing aids require batteries. If your device is not working properly or you cannot hear, the chances are that you should check your battery. Make sure you know exactly what battery your hearing aid requires. Installing the incorrect batteries may render your hearing aid useless.

Useful tips - Hearing Aid batteries

• Make sure you align the batteries correctly when installing
• Temperature can affect the operation of the battery, make sure your battery is within operating ranges
• Do not mix new and old batteries
• Do not mix battery types
• Remove the battery if you are not intending to use your hearing aid for awhile
• Keep batteries in their packaging until used and store in a cool place to prolong their life

Battery sizes

There are numerous brands of batteries around, find the one that works best with your hearing aid and is recommended by the manufacturer or the audiologist providing the hearing aid. Sizes range from 5 - 675 for the more common Zinc-aid batteries required by most hearing aids. To help users identify the battery for their hearing aid, battery packaging is colour coded to an industry standard. Prices will also differ by size and life. Batteries are available in small packs of 6 through to larget economy packs of 48. Buy the number of batteries based on usage rather than economy. Most the larger battery manufacturers manufacture hearing aid batteries, including Duracel, Energiser and Rayovac.

Size 5 (Red dot), 10 (Yellow dot) are best suited for completely in the canal or CIC hearing aids

Size 13 (Orange dot) are best suited for BTE (behind the ear) or ITE (in the ear) hearing aids

Size 312 (Brown dot) are best suited for ITE ine the ear and in the canal hearing aids

Size 675 - (Blue dot) Best suited for BTE or Behind the Ear hearing aids

GenX - High performance batteries to keep pace with blue-tooth enabled hearing aids.  While these do not last as long on average they deliver a higher peak current. There are no rechargeable GenX batteries. These batteries usually have the following logo:

Battery types

Zinc air batteries are the most common and popular for hearing aids. These batteries use the air around the battery as a power source and generally have a higher power than mercury or alkaline batteries as a result. The downside is that battery life is limited once air activates the battery.

High powered Zinc air batteries are designed for higher output specifically for hearing aids.

Battery types are generally interchangeable as long as the right size is selected.

Hearing Aid battery recycling

Hearing aid batteries are made from zinc, which can be hazardous when disposed of. Try to recycle your hearing aid batteries if possible. Options for dealing with your batteries rather than throwing them out with the garbage include returning them to the place of purchase for recycling or participating in any battery recycling programs that may be in place in your local area. Certain hearing aids will take rechargeable batteries, removing the need to recycle.