What Batteries Are Used in OTC Hearing Aids?

Patients usually buy their hearing aids after they visit a hearing health professional. However, a new type of hearing aid in the market is known as the OTC or over-the-counter. These are for patients with moderate hearing loss, common in old age. So they can get it directly without getting a prescription from a professional.

While its usage solves the hearing issue for patients, another issue is their batteries since these devices use batteries that need replacement after some time.

Hearing Aid Battery Sizes

Hearing aids use battery cell batteries due to their small size and long lifespan for the given application. These batteries are designed to run after being installed in a device constantly, and there is no need to turn off the device or remove it to preserve the remaining battery life during the day.

However, when you remove your hearing aid at night, you can open the battery door, preserving the battery life. Speaking of the sizes, below are the following 5 sizes of batteries used for hearing aids.

5

Size 5 is the smallest battery size that could be used in hearing aid devices, and due to its small size, it also provides less backup time. Due to that reason, it is the least used size in comparison with other sizes.

10

The 10-size battery can last an average of 3 to 7 days of consistent usage while you can improve the battery life by our tip above. The battery is usually used for CIC and RITE hearing aids.

13

Next is the 13-size hearing aid battery, designed for BTE and ITE hearing aid devices. It has the same diameter size as the 312 batteries but is a little thicker, making it last up to 2 weeks of usage.

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312

While the 13-battery size is 5.4 mm thick, the 312 size is only 3.6 mm thick, making it relatively smaller in capacity. The reduced thickness while maintaining the same diameter makes this battery last only for 10 days max.

675

675 is also a rarely used battery since it is huge and does not fit many hearing aid devices. It is typically opted for by the Power BTE hearing aid users since these batteries can last up to 20 days of usage in those devices.

Which brand of 312 hearing aid batteries lasts the longest? 

The 312 batteries are relatively thin compared to the 13, and they can provide a reliable battery timing of around 3 to 10 days of average use. Different brands make 312 batteries, so their lifespan differs even when maintaining the same usage patterns. So, the longest-lasting battery comes from the brand Rayovac.

The Rayovac batteries can last longer than most other brands' 312 batteries, and it is because of the 30% bigger size. Apart from that, these batteries come with multiple other benefits, including:

Front-facing tabs for easy handling

Bigger size for easier removal

Perfect size to weight capacity. 

Common brands from which you can buy 312 batteries for your hearing aid.

Some of the leading brands that manufacture 312 heading aid batteries include:

Duracell

Toshiba

Rayovac

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Energizer

HearClear, etc.

No matter which of these you get, Rayovac claims to last longer than these brands.

Benefits of buying Rayovac 312 battery for your hearing aid.

Going for the Rayovac 312 batteries for your hearing aid can bring you multiple benefits, including:

Cost Benefits

Cost-benefit is the first and the biggest benefit of going with this brand. As the batteries will last longer than other batteries, you will need to buy newer batteries less frequently, and as a result, you will get significant cost savings.

Peace of Mind

Knowing that your battery will last for a time claims to bring you peace of mind. So, if this battery says to last for x days, you can freely go anywhere if you don’t change the usage pattern. You will not need extra batteries and may enjoy an overall premium experience.

What kind of batteries does hearing aids use?

Zinc Air battery technology is the most commonly used technology for hearing aid batteries. It is a non-rechargeable battery type that provides power by oxidizing zinc inside the battery. That’s why these batteries come in a sealed pack with a sticker.

You are also advised not to remove the sticker before you want to use that battery since removing the sticker will open the exposure of air to zinc which will start the oxidation process and decrease battery life.

What are the main considerations for a hearing aid battery?

Battery technology is not the only consideration when choosing hearing aid batteries. Several other factors must be considered when buying a battery for a hearing aid.

Long Battery Life

Long battery life is among the main concerns for many people since these batteries are not designed to last long. The battery usually lasts between 3 and 20 days (about 3 weeks), depending on the type and brand you select. However, the longest battery may not be compatible with your device.

Lightweight

You must wear your hearing aids for as long as you are awake. You may remove them when you don’t have anyone around, but these are essential to get good hearing while out of the housing. So, being lightweight is one of the major concerns for hearing aid batteries since they must always stay comfortable.

Compact Design

Another important factor while designing these batteries is the compact design. These devices are made to fit inside or over the ear, and they cannot fit huge batteries like the AAA batteries for reasons like huge size and heavy weight. That’s why only button cell batteries are used for hearing aids.

Multi-device Compatibility

It will be a good feature if you get it since you can switch multiple devices while having the same battery brand and type.

Conclusion

An over-the-counter hearing aid can be extremely beneficial if you suffer from mild or moderate hearing loss. However, once you get used to it, and the battery on your device dies, things can get problematic since you will start facing hearing issues again. The solution is to have a good supply of good brand and right size batteries so that you are always ready to replace the old batteries with new ones.