NHS Hearing Aids Batteries – Options

Hearing aid care is essential for its longevity and proper functioning. Using and storing the appropriate type of hearing aid batteries is an important part in ensuring that your hearing aids will perform to its best capability.

Obtaining a hearing aid from the NHS is free of charge on a loan basis. In addition, the NHS in theory provides you with free batteries as well.

You should go back to the hearing centre you obtained your hearing aid from (Scrivens, Boots etc) to get your batteries, as you are allocated a regular supply by the NHS through that hearing centre. Should you have moved into the area or wishe to switch hearing centres, then you should go to the new hearing centre and ask to transfer to them for their hearing tests etc. This will allow them provide you with a regular supply of batteries.

You may be able to also get free NHS batteries by post from the Audiology Dept at the John Radcliffe Hospital, where you will will also need to send in you Brown Book.

We have a very limited supply of Free batteries for NHS hearing aids available at our Reception, and only one packet can be given out at a time as an emergency.  You will need to show your Brown Hearing Aid Record Book to receive these.

Batteries can also be purchased from outlets such as Boots, Specsavers or online, where you can purchase a large number of batteries at reasonable prices. Below are some links to online sites (please note these are not recommendations and the Practice cannot be held responsible for any purchases through these sites):

What Batteries do I get with my  Hearing Aid?

There are several brands offered by the NHS including Rayovac, Power One, ZeniPower and Duracell. However, all other zinc air brands on the market are suitable.

There are various brands and sizes of hearing aid batteries, so before purchasing, it is important to know which battery type best fits your hearing device. Choosing a brand is mostly personal taste and preference and you may have to experiment with various brands to find which ones you prefer.

What size Batteries do I need?

All hearing aid batteries come in 4 sizes with numerical values:

  • 10
  • 13
  • 312
  • 675

To determine the exact size you need, you have to look at your hearing aid manual or consult with your audiologist.

To make size choice easier, the batteries also have corresponding colours that are unified across all manufacturers.

  • 10 =Yellow
  • 13 = Orange
  • 312 = Brown
  • 675 = Blue

You can get the batteries you need for your hearing aid completely free if you carry your NHS brown record book with you when you pick them up. There are a number of places across the UK where NHS batteries are available, e.g. hospitals or GP surgeries.

Storage and care for batteries

The batteries usually come in packs of six so you will have spare batteries after you open the package.

Make sure each battery has a protective seal on it before you change the battery. In cases where the seal is compromised, it is highly likely that the battery will not perform well. All hearing aid batteries are zinc air, which means they become active when they make first contact with air and this process is not reversible and commences as soon as the seal on the bottom is removed.

The average life of a battery varies depending on the amplification you use and how many hours per day you wear your hearing aid. The battery life could be anywhere between a week and a few months, assuming you use fresh batteries and store them and the device properly. To keep your batteries safe, it is best not to mix them with old ones, avoid putting them near metal objects (e.g. keys), ensure the seal stays in place until you need to use them or store them in a battery caddy.

Recycling

To avoid contaminating the environment with dangerous chemicals, after using the batteries it is best to return them for recycling rather than simply throw them away. To assist in protecting the natural world, many manufacturers such as Rayovac have now stopped using mercury in the battery composition and provide eco-friendly batteries