Hearing Aid Batteries: Is There Really A Shortage?

Published by Stephen Milward in Medical · Tuesday 12 May 2026 · 3 minutes
Tags: Hearing, Aid, Batteries, Shortage, Hearing, Health, Assistive, Devices, Technology, Consumer, Awareness, Supply, Chain

I wear hearing aids in both ears. I've had hearing difficulties since I was a child. I have memories of going to a building with my mother to have hearing tests when I was in Junior school. I know what it's like to have hearing loss and I know the value to my life quality that my hearing aids bring. This is personal.

We are told that there is a national shortage of hearing aid batteries, specifically the type 312 (i). Who's telling us? Well, for starters, my local hospital. Here's an extract from an email from Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (ii):

This is an Automatic response

Due to the national shortage of A312 batteries, we are having to limit battery issue to one packet per patient on sight of the Sherwood Forest Hospitals Battery card. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, and we hope that this will be resolved in the near future.

Many thanks for your patience in this matter.

The Audiology Team

So what are hearing aid users to do? Well, don't think this is a new thing. On the 29 January 2026, this issue was brought up in the House of Lords! (iii) Baroness Merron said this:

'My Lords, a single type of Energizer hearing aid battery is under supply pressure due to increased demand. It is still available to order and the NHS supply chain has instituted demand management to ensure a fair supply of available stock across the NHS. The NHS supply chain is working with Energizer and an alternative supplier to maximise stock availability and will take steps to improve future resilience. I am glad to say that the supply issue is anticipated to be resolved by 16 March.'

Today is 12 May 2026, over two months after the anticipated resolution date. I leave it to you to work out why that is. I'm delighted that politicians are on the case. All will be well now.

But my question is whether or not there is really a shortage of hearing aid batteries. Well, in one word - no. Why do I say that? Just enter '312 Hearing Aid Batteries' into Amazon's search and you will be amazed, at a time of 'shortage', just how many batteries they have on sale, including Energizer batteries (£7.16 for 16). The only conclusion I can arrive at is not that there's a 'national shortage', but that the NHS has failed hearing aid users in the UK. You could extend that by saying that the NHS has failed vulnerable people (80% of people over 70 suffer from hearing loss) (iv). No-one should have to turn their hearing aids off to somehow extend the life of a battery. People can get stressed and deeply worried. They can withdraw socially, with the problems that can cause making the situation worse.

The NHS must sort out this terrible situation. Their response so far is miserable, inadequate and cause for great concern.

To finish, please visit the RNID website (v), where you can find a lot of information regarding all types of hearing loss.

(i) Wikipedia: Type 312 Batteries

(ii) Wikipedia: Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

(iii) UK Parliament Hansard: Battery Shortage For NHS Hearing Aids

(iv) UK Parliament Hansard: Battery Shortage For NHS Hearing Aids

(v) RNID Website