If you are still unsure which battery to use, you can post us a used battery or packaging and we will advise you which battery you need. If you choose to do this, please include your name and contact details to allow for any consultation which may be required.

Types of hearing aids

There are a variety of hearing aids for people with different types and severity of hearing loss. There are four common types of hearing aids available:

Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC):		This is the smallest hearing aid currently available on the market and is almost invisible in the ear.
In-the-Canal (ITC):		These are a little bigger than the CIC. ITC hearing aids fit into the ear canal and are used for mild to moderate hearing loss.
In-the-Ear (ITE):		These hearing aids are used for a wider range of hearing losses. Their larger size means they can accommodate more features such as larger sound amplifiers and a telephone coil. They are easier to handle than CIC and ITC hearing aids.
Behind-the-Ear (BHE):		BTE hearing aids sit behind the ear. These hearing aids require a custom made ear mould. Clear plastic tubing joins the BTE hearing aid to the ear mould. BTE hearing aids provide more amplification than the smaller hearing aids due to a stronger amplifier and larger battery. The Cochlear® 3G, Freedom, Hybrid and Nucleus 5 processors are also a BTE design.

Images courtesy of NIDCD

Common battery sizes

The most common hearing aid battery sizes are the 10, 13, 312, and 675.

Below is a summary of the various sizes and the corresponding colour codes.

		Type of hearing aid				BHE Cochlear Implant
		CIC	ITC	ITE	BTE
	Size 675 Colour coding: Blue Buy now!
	Size 312 Colour coding: Brown Buy now!
	Size 13 Colour coding: Orange Buy now!
	Size 10 Colour coding: Yellow Buy now!

* ESPrit, ESPrit 3G for Nucleus 22, ESPrit 3G for Nucleus 24, Freedom, Hybrid and Nucleus 5 cochlear implant processors.

Some hearing aids do not use standard hearing aid batteries. If this is the case with your hearing aid, please email, fax or post to us the details of the battery size and hearing aid. We will try our best to to obtain the battery for you.

Cochlear Implant batteries provide high current so that the processors can perform well where high current drain is required. It is for this reason that some zinc-air battery manufacturers have optimized a size 675 for the BTE cochlear implant processor.

The various Nucleus cochlear implant processors (such as ESPrit, ESPrit 3G for Nucleus 22, ESPrit 3G for Nucleus 24, Freedom, Hybrid, and Nucleus 5) use size 675 zinc-air batteries optimized for high drain.

Some processors (such as MedEL) use standard zinc-air hearing aid batteries with excellent results.

It needs to be kept in mind that battery performance very much depends on the implant user's map (which is unique to each person).

Selecting the Right Battery

There are a number of ways you can identify the size of the hearing aid battery you require. The most popular are the numerical code or the colour code.

The battery size number is usually located in a corner on the front or back of the packaging. Depending on the brand, the size number (10, 13, 312 or 675) number may have a letter before or after it. Some manufacturers include letters with the size number (for example: R675MF, 10DS, P13, A312).

Click here for our cross reference chart. Please be careful not to confuse the battery size with the "use by" date or the batch number.

Manufacturers have different battery quality and performance, however, the specifications of the battery will comply with IEC standards. For example, the size 312 battery will fit in hearing aids designed to use the size 312 battery, regardless of the manufacturer.

If you are still unsure which battery size suits you, you can post us a used battery or packaging and we will advise you which battery you need. If you choose to do this, please include your name and contact details to allow for any consultation which may be required.

Use only the correct size and type of battery in your hearing aid/cochlear implant. If you are not sure what size or type of battery to use, consult the documentation for your hearing aid/cochlear implant or contact your hearing professional.

Do not attempt to force a battery into your hearing aid or cochlear implant. This will likely result in damage. It could be a sign of an incorrect battery type or size.