Why You Should Update to Rechargeable Hearing Aids
It’s looking like rechargeable hearing aids are here to stay, and there are a few really good reasons why! If you’re currently wearing hearing aids that use disposable batteries, and you’re in the market for a new pair, it’s worth taking a look at what rechargeable hearing aids have to offer.
State-of-the-Art Technology
While rechargeable hearing aids have been available, off and on, for many years, only in the last few years have they really taken hold of the market. That’s because battery technology has finally reached a point at which rechargeable hearing aids are practical for all-day wear.
The lithium-ion batteries used in today’s rechargeable hearing aids are the same technology used in smartphones, laptops, tablets, electric vehicles, and more. These batteries can finally hold enough energy to power a set of hearing aids for all-day use, even when Bluetooth is being employed. (That’s partly due to new Bluetooth technology, as well, which draws lower power than Bluetooth protocols of the past.)
You can expect a pair of modern rechargeable hearing aids to last at least 18 hours on a single charge, and most last significantly longer than that. They’ll provide amplified sound all day long. At the end of the day, when you’re ready for bed, simply remove your hearing aids, wipe them down with a clean, dry cloth, and place them on their charging station overnight. After about 3 hours on their charger, they’ll be fully charged again and ready for another full day’s use.
More Convenient
Most people will find today’s rechargeable hearing aids more convenient than those that use disposable batteries. That’s because you won’t need to keep extra batteries on hand, or head to the store to get more. Disposable batteries might die at any time of day, requiring you to stop what you’re doing and replace the battery, while rechargeables start every day with enough power to last until you take them out before bed.
Disposable batteries have a shelf life, and seasoned wearers know which places tend to have the freshest batteries. While it might be convenient to pick up batteries while you’re at the convenience store, your local hearing aid provider will likely have fresher batteries, as they tend to move through their stock more quickly. With rechargeable batteries, you no longer need to worry about where you’re getting your batteries from, or whether you’re going through them fast enough to justify a bulk purchase. Your rechargeable batteries will likely last the entire lifespan of your hearing aids, never needing replacement!
Safer for Pets and Kids
Disposable zinc-air batteries are extremely hazardous—potentially fatal—if swallowed. It’s important to keep spare batteries as well as dead batteries out of reach of pets and children. Despite wearers’ best intentions, it still happens fairly often that a trip to the emergency room or emergency vet is required after a little one ingests a hearing aid battery.
While rechargeable hearing aids are also very harmful if swallowed, it’s much less likely that a pet or child will manage to get a hold of your hearing aids than they will an errant battery.
Environmentally Friendly
A set of hearing aids can burn through over 600 disposable batteries over the course of their lifespan. That’s a lot of battery waste! While all batteries should be properly recycled, a rechargeable battery will typically last the whole lifetime of the hearing aid in which it is installed, much like your smartphone battery does.
It’s not just the physical waste of the battery, but also the manufacturing and shipping of all those additional batteries that adds up to a heftier environmental toll. If you’re concerned about conserving resources, rechargeable hearing aids are a great way to help!
Better Seal
Unlike hearing aids that use disposable batteries, rechargeable hearing aids do not require a user-accessible battery compartment. This allows manufacturers to create a tighter seal against moisture and debris, which helps your hearing aids to last longer! The majority of out-of-warranty repairs are required due to water damage, so the better the seal, the better your chances of avoiding a pricey repair. The Phonak company even makes a rechargeable hearing aid that is waterproof (up to 1.64 feet).